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  • Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Arthroscopy     PDF Booklet
  • Cast Care     PDF Booklet
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorder     PDF Booklet
  • Fibromyalgia     PDF Booklet
  • Gout     PDF Booklet
  • Joint Injections for Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Lyme Disease     PDF Booklet
  • Medications for Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Muscle Cramps     PDF Booklet
  • Nutraceuticals (Dietary Supplements)     PDF Booklet
  • Nutrition and Surgery     PDF Booklet
  • Osteoarthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Osteoporosis     PDF Booklet
  • Postsurgical Infection     PDF Booklet
  • Psoriatic Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Rehabilitation for Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Septic Arthritis     PDF Booklet
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus     PDF Booklet
  • Tendonitis     PDF Booklet
  • Viral Arthritis     PDF Booklet

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    • FAQs

  • I've heard that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and Feldene can cause more than just stomach problems. I take these drugs for my arthritis. What else should I be watching for?
  • I'm 66 years old and in good health. I have no joint pain or signs of arthritis. It seems like all my friends are taking two or three drugs for arthritis. Is it just a matter of time before it hits me?
  • I seem to have very loose muscles and joints. Do I even need to bother with stretching before exercise?
  • Why do muscles shrink after surgery or if a cast is applied?
  • My doctor has prescribed a COX-2 inhibitor for my pain and inflammation. What is it? Will it work?
  • What will happen on my first visit to the doctor?
  • What is an EMG test?
  • Will my doctor prescribe medication for my pain?
  • Some people say I should use heat for my pain, and others say ice. Which is best?
  • I have had intense pain for months. Why won't my doctor keep giving me strong pain medications? The pain is just as bad now as it was earlier.
  • My doctor wants to do an MRI. What is it, and what will it show?
  • I have an artificial hip, and I need an MRI scan of my low back. I know the MRI machine uses a very strong magnet. Will the metal in my artificial hip cause a problem with the MRI?
  • What is osteopenia? It just sounds like osteoporosis to me.
  • What is a spinal tap, and why do I need one?
  • What is an SSEP test?
  • My doctor wants to do an X-ray. What will that show?
  • What is a bone scan?
  • I have finished chemotherapy for breast cancer. My doctor says this puts me at high risk for osteoporosis. What can I do to lower my risk?
  • My doctor recommends a cortisone injection to control my pain and swelling. I don't want to take a steroid. Will the cortisone injection hurt me?
  • I keep reading about using glucosamine for arthritis. Will it help me?
  • Are there other health-care professionals who can help me with my chronic pain?
  • What is a TENS unit? What does it do?
  • After a day at work, my neck and arms ache, and I have a pounding headache. Most of the time, all I do is sit at a desk and work on a computer. What is causing this pain?
  • I've heard that you can get blood clots after surgery. I'm having surgery soon, and I'm worried. Are blood clots really a problem, and can they be prevented?
  • I am going to have fusion surgery. My doctor wants me to use a bone growth stimulator after surgery. What is it? Does it work?
  • My doctor used metal plates and screws to hold two of my bones together. Can I go through metal detectors at the airport?
  • My therapy treatments help my pain so much. Why can't I just keep coming once a week?
  • I get ultrasound treatments for chronic pain. Last time I had a burning sensation during the treatment. Could I have been burned from ultrasound?
  • I'm supposed to start ultrasound treatments for my sore joints. Is this the same kind of ultrasound that doctors use to look at hearts?
  • Ultrasound treatments really relieve the pain in my sore neck. Can they help my headaches, too?
  • Why don't I feel anything when my therapist rubs the ultrasound head on my skin? I thought it was supposed to feel warm.
  • Why do I feel heat when my therapist treats my aches and pains with ultrasound?
  • What can ultrasound treatments do for my pain?
  • How does the ultrasound machine used by my therapist work?
  • I have one sore spot. Why can't my therapist just hold the ultrasound right on it, instead of rubbing it around?
  • Is there a home ultrasound unit? Ultrasound really relieves my pain, but I always have to go to my therapist to get treatments.
  • Will the radiation from the ultrasound machine hurt me?
  • Can I get an electric shock from ultrasound treatments?
  • I can't get my therapist to do ultrasound treatments all over where it hurts. Why does she just do ultrasound in a little spot?
  • My husband has emphysema which, according to his doctor, is from many years of smoking. He was told that if he "exercised his lungs" using some kind of breathing machine, it might help. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
  • I've noticed that later in my run my breathing gets faster, even though I'm running the same pace the whole time. I've been doing this level of workout for years. Shouldn't I be used to it by now?
  • I get up early and go for a three-mile run in the mornings. I heard that coffee is not good before exercising so have been avoiding it. But I need it to wake up. Without it, I'm a danger to myself out there! Any suggestions?
  • I run on a track team as a sprinter in the spring and cross country in the fall. My friends all drink caffeine pops before running. They say it helps their time. My track coach says caffeine can actually make me more tired. I'm not sure who to believe.
  • I'm training for my first triathlon. I'm a terrible swimmer, so I am looking for anything to help in that event. I have friends who are competitive swimmers who swear that using caffeine before swim meets can help. Is it true?
  • I heard that there was some kind of lung exerciser that was supposed to make your breathing muscles stronger. Is there such a thing?
  • I broke my leg two years ago, and it still hasn't healed. My orthopedist says it's because of my age (I'm 77) and the fact that I have to take steroids for my arthritis. I haven't time to hobble about. Anything new out there?
  • How does ultrasound work to heal bone fractures?
  • My doctor has prescribed ultrasound to heal the broken bone in my arm. I've never heard of this. Does ultrasound have any side effects or dangers?
  • I've been a doctor for nearly twenty years. I see many people in their fifties and beyond who are at risk for health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. I always stress that regular exercise can help prevent these serious health problems. Still, many of my patients don't exercise. What am I missing?
  • In the past two years, I've run two half-marathon races. Surprisingly, I trained less for the first race than I did for the second one, yet I did better in the first race. I trained hard to improve my time on second race. Why didn't my hard work pay off?
  • I'm training for a swim meet at my local YMCA. I've read about tapering off my usual training program a week or so before the meet. I don't have a coach and am not experienced with this. Any suggestions on how to do it?
  • My track coach said that he will shorten our training a week before the upcoming state competition. I'm not complaining, but I am curious how this will help us do better at state.
  • At what age should a person start using a cane or walker?
  • My grandmother is elderly, and she is very frail. Is this genetic, or can I do something to avoid frailty myself?
  • One always hears that exercising during youth can make you stronger as an elderly person. How is this possible?
  • What exactly is meant by a success rate? How is a treatment's success rate measured?
  • My doctor read that a medical procedure had a good success rate. But then he said the success rate couldn't be trusted because the researchers didn't use good methods. What's he talking about?
  • I've heard that smoking interferes with bone fusion surgeries. How exactly does nicotine get in the way of healing?
  • I've heard that applying ice to an injury is important, but also that it's not a good idea to put ice directly on the skin. Is this true?
  • I've been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome type I. My doctor seems to have tried everything for the pain--corticosteroids, anesthetics, physical therapy, and even counseling. Is there any hope for relief of my pain?
  • When I use capsaicin for my arthritis, I feel a burning sensation on my skin. Should I stop using the product?
  • What is capsaicin?
  • Where do bone grafts come from?
  • I have a friend who is totally crazy about running. He clocks at least 40 miles per week. I, on the other hand, do well to get in 20 miles per week. Neither of us has a weight problem, so I'm wondering if there is some health reason for me to push it more.
  • I recently went to see my doctor for my annual tune up. She was pleased that I exercise but felt I needed to pick up the pace. I currently walk about half a mile five to six days per week, admittedly at a slow pace. She checked my heart and said it would be safe to pick up the pace in order to tone the nervous system's affect on my heart. What did she mean?
  • I recently noticed that when I'm lying down quietly, my heart rate speeds up and slows down. Should I be alarmed?
  • I've heard the term "resistive training" used to describe exercise. What does it mean?
  • I strained my right hamstring muscle three months ago. At first, I could deal with the pain using anti-inflammatory medication. I'm just now getting back to sports, and the pain is still there. Should I continue taking the medicine?
  • I hurt my calf muscle playing basketball last week. My doctor said that I have a "grade three" strain of the muscle. How badly did I hurt myself, and how will this affect my ability to play sports?
  • I'm trying to get into shape and loose that extra 10 pounds I can't seem to shake. I lift weights three or four days a week. A friend told me that I can't loose weight lifting weights. Should I abandon my weights?
  • Another woman at work told me I would be able to keep up with the men on the job if I got into a strength training program. She also told me I need to lift heavier weights quickly with few repetitions, rather than lifting lighter weights with lots of slow repetitions. Which way works the best?
  • I've recently started lifting weights. My trainer told me that my blood pressure will go up while I lift. Is this a problem?
  • I have to pass a fitness test for my ROTC course. Let's just say I spend way more time in front of a computer screen than at the gym. How should I get in shape for the test?
  • I am about 50 pounds overweight, and it's killing my knees. I'm trying to loose weight. I swim laps three or four days a week. I usually swim for 45 minutes but have to admit sometimes my laps lack "oomph." Some workouts I swim twice as many laps in that 45 minutes as I do on the days when my energy is low. Does the added intensity make much difference?
  • I work for a construction company that builds skyscrapers. This involves a lot of heavy lifting and hard work. I'm the only woman on the crew and have a hard time keeping up with the guys. (Most are twice my weight.) I keep in good shape by running and stretching regularly. Any other suggestions?
  • For about a year now, I've been walking and occasionally lifting weights. If I burn about 300 calories during a workout, then a single candy bar would cancel the benefits of my workout. Still, I've managed to take off 12 pounds in the last year without changing my diet much. How is that possible?
  • What is "endurance training?"
  • The pain and swelling in my leg have gotten worse since I strained my calf muscle yesterday. Is it true that wrapping it and keeping the leg elevated can help the swelling go down?
  • It's been three weeks since I had a minor strain in my calf muscle. I'm feeling pretty good and want to get back to playing tennis. Am I safe to go back to playing? How can I be sure to avoid hurting my calf again while I'm out on the court?
  • Should I use heat or ice for the muscle I strained last night?
  • My older sister who is in college (and therefore thinks she knows everything) told me my bones are constantly rebuilding themselves and that now is the time to get lots of calcium. (I'm 16.) Should my parents get their money back, or did her college anatomy class teach her something?
  • I've been taking birth control pills for a year. My mom is going through "the change" and has started taking some kind of hormone, too. It has helped her get back to normal. (Mr. Hyde is definitely making fewer appearances.) Besides that, she said it will help keep her bones strong. Will my pills do that too? If it makes any difference, I am a long distance runner. (I heard this is supposed to build strong bones.)
  • What is the difference between an autograft and an allograft?
  • My son is involved in water polo and track. He recently broke his arm in an accident which made me wonder. Is one sport better for bones than the other?
  • I recently read that hormone and growth levels in swimmers are less than in basketball players or runners. Our swim-team workouts are much more strenuous than the workouts for these other sports. What gives?
  • I am a sophomore in high school. My friends and I don't play sports. We seem to be much smaller than the "jocks" our age. Is this just a coincidence?
  • I've been a baseball fan for years. Is it my imagination, or are more players out of the game due to injuries now than ever before?
  • Are soccer players more likely to be injured during practice or competition?
  • I am 35 and have been playing soccer for years. Am I more likely to get injured now that I'm older?
  • How dangerous is soccer when it comes to injuries?
  • I've given birth three times. My mother says I'd better do Kegel exercises to avoid incontinence later. Is she right?
  • I've heard that people with major pelvic trauma may need to have surgery right away. Why is that?
  • I am a nurse in a trauma unit. We have a few different kinds of mechanical compression devices for patients to use after pelvic trauma to prevent blood clots. Is there one device that's better than the rest?
  • Some of my patients suffer from incontinence. I've suggested they do exercises to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor. But patients seem to have a hard time with these exercises. What else can I recommend?
  • My doctor said that doing certain types of abdomimal exercise could help me avoid incontinence. Is this true?
  • I am a 30-year-old woman who hates sports and is basically inactive. How big is my risk for osteoporosis?
  • Is it helpful to take anti-inflammatories right after having a muscle strain?
  • Will doing leg stretches before I jog keep me from getting an injury?
  • I am a female college athlete involved in track and swimming. Whenever I cough or laugh, I leak a few drops of urine. My coach told me there is weakness of the muscles that hold my bladder in place. How can these muscles be weak since I exercise every day?
  • I recently gave birth to my first child. Now I am having problems getting to the bathroom in time before losing urine. Will this go away with time?
  • I notice that whenever I increase from walking to jogging I leak urine. What can I do about this?
  • I read that the new recommendations for improved health include at least 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity. What does "moderately intense" mean?
  • I heard on the news that the government has released new guidelines for exercise. What are they, and who are they for?
  • At age 41, I broke my arm slipping on the ice. Could this injury have anything to do with having used birth control pills for nearly 15 years?
  • My mother's been on bed rest after serious surgery. I'm worried that her muscles will deteriorate. Are there exercises she should be doing to prevent this? How many exercises should she do, and how often?
  • My doctor gave me an anti-inflammatory medication for my recent muscle contusion. How do these kinds of drugs work? Do they have any negative effects I should know about?
  • Does stretching actually change the muscles? Or does it only feel that way?
  • I have no flexibility in my muscles at all. Sometimes stretching actually hurts. How much do I need to stretch to make the discomfort go away?
  • I am 42, and I was startled to be diagnosed with osteoporosis. I am very thin, having been a distance runner for years. I have frequently missed my period and been told this was because my body was stressed by my running. I thought exercise on top of good calcium intake was enough to make sure my bones stayed strong. What is the story?
  • My football coach said that tightening your muscles before tackling an opponent can reduce the chance of injury. Is this true?
  • I got a contusion in my thigh playing soccer. How long should I rest my leg?
  • I saw an article in a womens' magazine that said walking could lower my blood pressure. Is this true?
  • What is arthrography?
  • What happens to the muscles during long periods of bed rest?
  • If there's no gravity in space, does that mean astronauts don't use their muscles? What's the effect of this over time?
  • What is a visual analog scale, and why do doctors use it?
  • How is arthroscopic surgery different from regular surgery?
  • Does sports medicine help professional baseball players lose less time to injuries?
  • I've heard that my symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis will improve during pregnancy. My doctor told me there might be less joint pain and less swelling. Can you explain this?
  • I thought studies showed that women could lower their risk of breast cancer by keeping physically active. Now I see that recreational activity may not lower my risk of breast cancer. Is this true?
  • I was told that doing household activities at a moderate intensity may lower my risk for breast cancer. What exactly does this include?
  • I have arthritis in my hips and knees, and I can't exercise on a regular basis. Will my risk of breast cancer increase because I can't exercise?
  • I read an article in a magazine about arthritis and some of the new studies on how to prevent this disease. Why is it necessary to do so many studies and repeat the same ones over and over? Isn't this a waste of money that could go directly to treatment?
  • When it comes to physical activity, is it more important for boys or girls to learn basic movement skills?
  • Do physical skills have something to do with whether or not kids play sports?
  • I injured my back in a work-related activity. Workers' compensation is covering my medical expenses. I see there is an ongoing study at the clinic for anyone who has a back injury. The notice says that anyone on workers' comp can't participate. What's different about workers' comp that keeps me from being part of the study?
  • Sometimes I wake up at night and my hands will be numb or one whole arm has gone to sleep. If I get up and move around, this goes away but it worries me. What can I do to prevent this from happening?
  • Our eight-year old son has Ewing's sarcoma, a tumor of the bone. In his case, the tumor is located in one of the forearm bones. The surgeon is planning to remove the tumor and fuse the two forearm bones together to hold the arm in a better position. What can we expect after surgery?
  • I've heard that preventing bone problems later in life depends on how much calcium we get as children. What can I do for my children to improve their "bone banks" now?
  • My 16-year-old daughter is very involved in a gymnastics club. She practices up to 20 hours a week. I've noticed she's lost a lot of weight, but I thought this was normal for her level of activity. Then she broke a bone in her foot. When they X-rayed her foot, there were signs of early osteoporosis. The doctor has diagnosed her with "female athlete triad." What is this?
  • What kinds of patients do chiropractors treat?
  • What does "complementary and alternative therapy" mean?
  • I started playing handball last summer. This fall I began to have sharp pain along the inside edge of my lower leg. The pain gets worse when I play handball and better when I rest. Is there any kind of test that could tell me what the problem is?
  • Six weeks ago, I had a baby. The birth and delivery seemed to go well. But over the last few weeks, I have noticed increasing difficulty getting out of bed. For some reason, I can't seem to lift my leg to get started. There isn't any pain, but a definite sense of "heaviness." What could be causing this?
  • I'm supposed to use an ice pack to help decrease pain and muscle spasm caused by an injury. Does it matter what size pack I use?
  • I have heard that applying ice to an injury helps reduce pain and swelling. How does this work?
  • I heard that smokers are more depressed than nonsmokers. What's the relationship between smoking and depression?
  • My 75-year-old father seems to be wasting away before my eyes. His muscles seem to have lost their shape and bulk. I think this is because of his diet. Is there any research to back me up on this?
  • My mother was recently diagnosed with sarcopenia. What is this, and what causes it?
  • It seems like there is more and more in the news about exercising to keep up muscle strength as we age. What is the effect of aging on our muscles?
  • Can children have osteoporosis? I thought this was just a disease of older women.
  • When should children or teenagers take calcium tablets to boost their bone density?
  • I had an X-ray of my hip after a horseback riding accident. According to the radiologist's report, there was no sign of osteoporosis. My neighbor had a different test called "DEXA scanning" that showed she did have early thinning of bone. What is the best test for this problem?
  • I heard that the average adult loses one to three inches in height by age 70. Are men or women more likely to lose height as they age?
  • My doctor told me that I have "fragile bones." What does this mean, and what causes it?
  • I recently had a total knee replacement because of severe osteoarthritis. Everything went well, and I am on track with my rehabilitation program. I am not having any problems with my back, but my doctor is recommending tests to look for changes in my spine. Is there some connection between my knees and my back?
  • I heard there is a new glue that can be used for bone fractures instead of casting or surgery. Is this available everywhere? What is it called?
  • Is obesity more common among certain types of people?
  • I am in the military and have to maintain a certain weight for my height. The commander of my unit gives us the choice of using skin calipers to measure skinfold or calculating body mass index (BMI). Which is a better measure of body fat?
  • What classifies someone as "obese"?
  • It seems like exercise is the answer to everything. When I turn on the TV, there is a commercial for exercise to prevent osteoporosis. When I read a magazine, it says exercise can improve my diabetes. Now I see that exercising can keep my muscles from deteriorating. Are all these claims true?
  • I am 73 years old and still very active. I would like to keep exercising, but my family tells me I should "take it easy." What's the best way to approach exercise as I get older?
  • I have been taking a steroid medication for the last six months. I've been told there are various side effects that can develop. I'd like to join a community soccer team. Should I avoid sports while I'm on this medication?
  • I read a lot of sports journals. I often read about stress fractures of the legs and feet. Do these kinds of fractures occur anywhere else?
  • I broke my forearm in a polo accident. I had an X-ray and a bone scan done. What's the difference between these two tests?
  • Where do tissue grafts used in surgery come from?
  • What is extracorporeal irradiation, and when is it used?
  • I saw an article in the newspaper about reducing back injuries in athletes by following a core-strengthening program. I'm interested in doing this kind of program. What exercises are involved?
  • I read in a health magazine about exercises to avoid back pain. The advice was based on a study done on college athletes. Since I am not college-aged or an athlete, does this information apply to me?
  • When I visited my neighbor in the hospital, I saw a big picture of different faces on the wall. They ranged from very sad to neutral to very happy. What is this for?
  • Sometimes I hear commercials about second- and third-generation drugs. What does this mean?
  • The news reports about the debate over "off-label" uses for drugs. What does this mean?
  • I just started taking Fosamax for osteoporosis. My doctor told me to avoid eating before taking the drug and to remain sitting up for 30 minutes after taking it. Why is this important?
  • I have diabetes, heart disease, and a painful shoulder. Vacuuming seems to be the hardest thing I do at home. I live alone and can’t really afford a cleaning service. What do you suggest?
  • I am a 77-year old woman living alone. Although I am very active and walk two to three miles every other day, I have trouble vacuuming my house. After just one room, I am short of breath and have to rest. My doctor suggested buying a self-propelled vacuum. Don’t these models still require pulling the unit towards myself? Will this really solve my problem?
  • Six months ago, I injured myself on the job. I'm supposed to take a test to see if I'm ready to go back to work. What kind of test is this?
  • I've heard a new term that I don't quite understand. What is "exercise prescription"?
  • What is heterotopic ossification and what causes it?
  • My brother goes from doctor to doctor until he hears what he wants to hear. Why do people do this instead of accepting what they hear the first time?