This page contains information about several common, painful, diseases
and conditions. It also contains links to other websites that will provide
valuable information for patients and their families.
Bone Disorders
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
TMJ
Other Diseases and Conditions
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Polio
Shingles
Arthritis
Arthritis is a group of
conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading
cause of di 
sability in people older than
fifty-five years. There a re different forms of arthritis and each has a
different cause. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which is usually a result of
trauma or infection of the joint, and/or age. Other arthritis forms of arthritis
include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis which are autoimmune
diseases. "Autoimmune diseases" mean that the body literally attacks itself.
Another form of arthritis is septic arthritis which is caused by joint
infection. "Gout" arthritis is another form and it is caused by deposition of
uric acid crystals in the joint, causing inflammation. There is also an uncommon
form of gout caused by the formation of rhomboid crystals of calcium
pyrophosphate. This gout is known as pseudogout. Children can get arthritis too,
this is called juvenile arthritis.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, which
means "porous bones," causes bones to become weak and brittle. They can become so brittle that
even mild stresses like bending over, lifting a vacuum cleaner or coughing can
cause a fracture. In most cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of
calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in your bones. A common result of
osteoporosis is fractures. Most factures occur in the spine,
hip or wrist. Although it's often thought of as a women's disease, osteoporosis
also affects many men. And aside from people who have osteoporosis, many more
have low bone density.
TMJ
Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJD,
TMJ,TMD or TMJ syndrome, is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic
inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
connects the lower jaw to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can
result in significant pain and impairment. There are a variety of quite different
treatment approaches because this disorder overlaps between several health-care
disciplines, in particular,
dentistry, neurology, physical therapy, and psychology. The temporomandibular
joint is susceptible to many of the conditions that affect other joints in the
body, including ankylosis, arthritis, trauma, dislocations, developmental
anomalies, and neoplasia.
Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an
uncommon, chronic condition that usually affects your arm or leg. Rarely, the
disease can affect other parts of your body. You may experience intense burning
or aching pain along with swelling, skin discoloration, altered temperature,
abnormal sweating and hypersensitivity in the affected area.
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Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder classified by
the presence of chronic widespread pain. While the criteria for such an entity
have not yet been thoroughly developed, the recognition that fibromyalgia
involves more than just pain has led to the frequent use of the term
"fibromyalgia syndrome". It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that
people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. The disorder is not
directly life-threatening. The degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to
day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission; however,
the disorder is generally perceived as non-progressive.
- Information from the National Pain
Foundation
- FDA Approves Fibromyalgia Drug Savella, January 8,
2009
- Insurance Barriers to Fibromyalgia National
Survey
-
- Research sheds light on pain and activity levels of
fibromyalgia patients. Daniel Clauw, M.D., senior author of the study, is a
current member of the ACPSM (2007)
- Helping Our Pain and
Exhaustion, Inc. - H.O.P.E.
- Fibromyalgia - A Brief Overview, presented by Dennis W.
Dobritt, DO, DABPM, FIPP
- Fibromyalgia: Fitting the Pieces Together, a presentation by
Sharon Ostalecki, Ph.D.
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Polio
Polio is a contagious viral illness that in its
most severe form causes paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death. In
the U.S., the last case of wild polio ? polio caused naturally, not by a vaccine
containing live virus ? occurred in 1979. Today, despite a concerted global
eradication campaign, wild poliovirus continues to affect children and adults in
Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Michigan
Polio Network
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Shingles
Shingles is a disease caused by the same virus
that caused chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can live,
but remain inactive in certain nerve roots within your body for many years; if
the virus becomes active again, usually later in life, it can cause
shingles.
Spotlight
On Shingles
Shingles - Information from the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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