About Musculoskeletal and Pain Disorders

Back Pain | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Osteoarthritis | Migraine Headache | Tension Headache | Repetitive Stress Injury | Elbow Bursitis | Tennis Elbow | Golfer’s Elbow| Rotator Cuff Injury | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Fibromyalgia

Below are brief descriptions of the musculoskeletal and pain conditions Alere manages.

Back Pain

Back pain can be mildly uncomfortable, excruciating or anywhere in between. It can start slowly, sometimes a result of poor posture, or come on suddenly because of injury. Back pain can last for a few short days or can linger for weeks, months and even years. Back pain should not be considered a normal part of aging; it is a chronic condition.

Causes

Most back pain is due to irritation of the joints, or pressure on the ligaments and muscles from diseased discs or bone spurs. Pressure on the nerve roots can also lead to back and leg pain.

Your bones and muscles tend to lose strength as you age, which increases your risk of injury. The spongy discs between the bones of the spine may suffer from wear and tear and may no longer provide enough cushion between the bones. A disc that bulges too much or that breaks open can press on nerves, causing back pain.

Symptoms

• Muscle spasms, cramping, and stiffness
• Pain, mostly in the back and buttocks. The pain may develop quickly or over a longer period of time. Pain generally occurs in episodes. It is aggravated by weight-bearing or specific movements and is relieved by rest. The most severe pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours and may be followed by days or weeks of less severe pain. The back is easily re-injured during this time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a relatively common disease of the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the membranes or tissues lining the joints become inflamed. Over time, the inflammation may destroy the joint tissues, leading to disability.

Causes

Exactly what triggers rheumatoid arthritis is not known, but it is in part due to abnormal immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's own immune system attacks the joint tissues. An inherited factor in some families (genetic predisposition) may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling in the joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, knees, or neck

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is mainly a disease of the hips, knees, hands and back. But it can happen in other joints too. Although you cannot cure arthritis, there are many treatments that can help with the pain and make it easier to move.

Causes

Osteoarthritis results from chemical changes in the cartilage that cause it to break down faster than it can be produced. In most cases, experts don't know the cause of this cartilage breakdown. In some cases, osteoarthritis may develop as a result of another condition.

Symptoms

• Pain: Your joints may ache, or the pain may feel burning or sharp. For some people, it may get better with time. But if the pain starts keeping you awake, your arthritis is getting worse.
• Stiffness: When you have arthritis, getting up in the morning can be hard. Your joints may feel stiff and creaky for a short time, until you get moving. You may also get stiff from sitting.
• Muscle weakness: The muscles around the joints may get weaker. This happens frequently with arthritis in the knee.
• Swelling: Arthritis can cause swelling in joints, making them feel tender and sore.
• Deformed joints: Joints can start to look like they are the wrong shape, especially as arthritis gets worse.
• Cracking and creaking: Your joints may make crunching, creaking sounds.

Migraine Headache

Migraines are painful, throbbing headaches that last from 4 to 72 hours. A migraine may be so painful that people are not able to follow their normal routine or do their usual activities. However, migraines do not cause long-term damage.

Causes

Migraines run in families, and a genetic link has been identified. However, it is not entirely clear why some people get migraines and others do not. While the cause of migraines is not well understood, it seems to involve the widening and narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain, which triggers changes in brain chemicals, inflammation, and pain.

Symptoms

Migraine headache symptoms vary and may occur with or without a warning sign called an aura. People who get an aura — which usually begins within 30 minutes before the headache starts — may see spots, wavy lines or flashing lights. Some people have numbness or a "pins-and-needles" sensation in their hands, arms or face during the aura. However, most people do not have an aura before they get a migraine headache.

Common symptoms of migraines include:

• Throbbing or pulsating headache on one side of your head
• Moderate to severe headache intensity
• Worsening of your headache with routine physical activity
• Nausea, vomiting or both
• Sensitivity to light and noise, and sometimes smells

Tension Headache

A tension headache causes a constant ache and tightness around the forehead, temples, or the back of the head and neck. Usually, pain from a tension headache is mild to moderate and doesn't interfere with performing daily tasks. However, the pain can sometimes be severe or continuous and disruptive.

Causes

The cause of tension headaches is not clear. Experts believe there may be more than one factor that causes a tension headache. In the past, doctors believed that tension or spasms of the muscles of the neck, face, jaw, head or scalp played a role in causing these headaches.

Now they think a change in brain chemistry may also contribute to the development of a tension headache.

Symptoms

• A constant headache that does not throb or pulse. You usually feel the pain or pressure on both sides of your head.
• Tightness around your forehead that may feel like a "vice grip".
• Aching pain at your temples or the back of your head and neck.

Repetitive Stress Injury or Cumulative Trauma Disorder

Repetitive motion disorders (RMDs) are a family of muscular conditions that result from repeated motions performed in the course of normal work or daily activities. RMDs include carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis, epicondylitis, ganglion cyst, tenosynovitis and trigger finger.

Causes

Generally, RMDs affect individuals who perform repetitive tasks such as assembly line work, meatpacking, sewing, playing musical instruments and computer work. The disorders may also affect individuals who engage in activities such as carpentry, gardening and tennis.

Symptoms

The disorders are characterized by pain, tingling, numbness, visible swelling or redness of the affected area, and the loss of flexibility and strength.

For some individuals, there may be no visible sign of injury, although they may find it hard to perform easy tasks. Over time, RMDs can cause temporary or permanent damage to the soft tissues in the body – such as the muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments – and compression of nerves or tissue.

Elbow Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a small sac of fluid that cushions and lubricates an area where tissues — including bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, or skin — rub against one another. Bursae are located throughout the body, in and on joints and other places that are at risk of rubbing or pressure.

Causes

Bursitis can be caused by prolonged or repeated pressure on a bursa, by activities that require repeated twisting or rapid joint movement, by infection or systemic diseases such as arthritis, or by trauma.

Symptoms

• Pain, especially with motion or pressure on the involved bursa
• Swelling caused by increased fluid within the bursa
• Redness and warmth

Tennis Elbow

“Tennis elbow” is a term that describes soreness or pain on the outer (lateral) part of the elbow. While tennis elbow is common, playing tennis is only one of many activities that can result in this tendon injury.

Also called lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow occurs when there is tendon damage at the elbow where some of the forearm and hand muscles connect to the upper arm bone. It affects the muscles in use when extending wrists and fingers.

Causes

• Overuse. Repeated movements that involve twisting of the elbow cause small tears in the tendon, weakening it. Overuse depends on how hard or how long you do something.
• A single accident, such as a direct hit to the side of the elbow (lateral epicondyle), or falling on an outstretched arm.

Symptoms

• Usually occurs in the dominant arm (your right arm if you are right-handed, left arm if you are left-handed).
• Affects the outside of the elbow (the side away from your body). Pain increases when that area is pressed or when you are grasping or twisting objects.
• May increase in the evening and make sleep difficult. The elbow might be stiff in the morning.
• Eventually occurs with mild activity, such as picking up a coffee cup; turning a jar lid, doorknob, or key; or shaking hands. Simply starting your car could hurt. You may even have pain when you aren't using your elbow.

Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer's elbow is a term used to describe pain or soreness in the inner part of the elbow.

Causes

The condition is considered an overuse injury and is seen more often in people who play golf, tennis or baseball.

Symptoms

Elbow problems can be minor or serious and may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness or changes in temperature or color.

Golfer’s elbow pain:

• Soreness or pain in the inner (medial) part of the elbow

Rotator Cuff Injury

Rotator cuff disorders are irritations of or damage to tendons around the shoulder. These disorders include inflammation, calcium build-up and tears of the tendon. Rotator cuff disorders caused by age-related changes often are associated with rubbing of the tendon on the bone.

Causes

Normally, the rotator cuff moves within a confined space called the subacromial space. Also within that space is a small sac of fluid which serves as a cushion between the tendons and bone. When the subacromial space becomes smaller due to inflammation, bone spurs or fluid buildup, the rotator cuff tendons may be squeezed and rub against bone.

As a result, the tendons may become damaged and irritated, causing bleeding and inflammation of the bursa or tendons. With continuing damage, the tendons develop scarring and become stringy, which makes them weaker and less flexible. Eventually, this may lead to partial or even complete tears.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a rotator cuff disorder include pain, stiffness and general weakness in your shoulder. Most often, the pain will be on the front and side of the shoulder and upper arm. The amount of pain varies, although it often increases when the arm is raised above the shoulder. The pain usually is closely related to the degree of damage.

• Minor damage: Pain most often occurs only when you are active, especially while making overhead movements, and is usually relieved with rest.
• Moderate damage: You will likely notice pain both during and after activity; it may also occur at night, especially when you lie on your shoulder.
• Severe damage: You may have continuous pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Similar Wrist Conditions

The carpal tunnel is a small space or "tunnel" in the wrist formed by the wrist bones and a ligament. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific group of symptoms that can include tingling, numbness, weakness or pain in the fingers, thumb, hand and occasionally in the arm. These symptoms occur when there is pressure on the median nerve within the wrist.

Causes

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by conditions and activities that put pressure on the median nerve and decrease its blood supply, leading to tingling, numbness, pain, and/or weakness. Any of the following conditions or activities, or a combination of them, can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Conditions such as hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and swelling in pregnancy
• Wrist injuries, bone spurs or swelling of the tendon sheath, which occurs with forceful or repetitive movement of the fingers and hand, especially if the wrist is in an awkward position.
• Diabetes
• Smoking and obesity

Symptoms

Mild carpal tunnel symptoms primarily affect the hand and sometimes the forearm, but they can radiate up to the shoulder.

Symptoms include:

• Numbness or pain in your hand, forearm or wrist that awakens you at night (shaking or moving your fingers may ease this numbness and pain).
• Occasional tingling, numbness, "pins-and-needles" sensation or pain. The feeling is similar to your hand "falling asleep."
• Numbness or pain that worsens while using your hand or wrist, especially when gripping an object with your hand or bending (flexing) your wrist.
• Occasional aching pain in your forearm between your elbow and wrist.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a long-term problem that causes pain in the muscles and soft tissues of your body. The condition can be severe enough to affect both work and home life.

However, fibromyalgia does no permanent damage to the muscles, joints or organs. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome — a set of symptoms that occur together but do not have a known cause.

Causes

Some theories suggest that fibromyalgia may be linked to:

• Oversensitive nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, which cause the person to sense pain more easily
• An imbalance in the brain chemicals that control mood, which affects sleep and pain tolerance
• An imbalance of hormones that results in fatigue, mood changes, concentration and memory difficulties, a lowered tolerance for pain and other symptoms
• A disturbance in the deep phase of sleep, which may be both a cause and effect of the syndrome

Symptoms

• Widespread chronic pain often described as deep or burning
• Fatigue that interferes with work and daily activities
• Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up feeling tired)
• Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour
• Headaches
• Constipation or diarrhea related to irritable bowel syndrome
• Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety or depression