What is lumbar lordosis? Is It painful? Share Your Story A symptom of lumbar lordosis is pronounced buttocks. Lumbar lordosis is the inward curve of the lumbar spine in the lower back. A small degree of lordosis (inward curvature) is normal. The spine in the neck also has lordosis (cervical lordosis). Normal lumbar (lower spine) …
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What is osteoarthritis? What is osteoporosis? Share Your Story Picture of a doctor showing an X-ray to a woman. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic joint pain, and affects over 23 million Americans. The definition of osteoarthritis is degeneration of joint cartilage tissue and the underlying bone. The definition of osteoporosis is a medical condition that results in …
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Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) facts* Picture of Knee Joint *Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) facts written by Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a disease where the tissue lining the joints and tendons grow abnormally to produce a noncancerous mass or tumor. There are two types: local (nodular) and diffuse. Local involves one area of the joint …
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What are steroids? Readers Comments 5 Share Your Story A syringe and an assortment of steroid pills; photo by iStock Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. They are used to treat a variety of inflammatory …
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What is osteoarthritis (OA)? Share Your Story Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both chronic joint disorders that cause joint pain. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder featuring degeneration and inflammation of cartilage of one or many joints. What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune joint disorder characterized by inflammation of the tissue (synovium) that …
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Rheumatic fever (acute rheumatic fever or ARF) facts Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease that sometimes occurs after strep throat. Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease that may develop after a strep throat infection, especially in children ages 5-15, although older teens and adults may develop the disease. The revised Jones criteria help physicians make the clinical diagnosis of rheumatic …
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Osteopenia facts Decreased bone density characterizes osteopenia. Osteopenia is decreased bone density but not to the extent of osteoporosis. This decreased bone density leads to bone fragility and an increased chance of breaking a bone (fracture). Women over the age of 65 and any postmenopausal woman with risk factors for bone loss should be tested for osteopenia or osteoporosis. The …
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What is Simponi (golimumab)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Golimumab is an injectable synthetic (man-made) protein that binds to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the body and blocks the effects of TNFα in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. As a result, the inflammation caused by these diseases and its consequences are reduced. Adalimumab …
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What are calcium salts? How do calcium salts work? Calcium is an important mineral required for the proper functioning of many organs and tissues. Calcium is needed for the heart, skeletal muscles, and nervous system to work properly. Additionally, calcium plays an important role in blood coagulation (stops bleeding). Our bones store calcium which can be released depending on our …
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What is trigger finger? Trigger finger can cause any digits of the hand to lock when opening or closing. Trigger finger is a "snapping" or "locking" condition of any of the digits of the hand when opening or closing. Stenosing tenosynovitis is the medical term for trigger finger. What causes trigger finger? Local swelling from inflammation or scarring of the …
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