Menopause is a natural part of ageing, but it’s often associated only with symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. What many don’t realise is that menopause can also significantly affect the muscles, joints, and bones. This section explores the musculoskeletal impacts of menopause and the emerging recognition of Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause. What is […]
Category archives: Pain Management
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a common back condition where the nerve roots or the spinal cord become pinched or compressed because the spaces within the spinal canal narrowing. It affects men and women in equal numbers, and around 10% of the UK population is believed to be living with this condition. Who gets it, are you […]
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is a nighttime condition of unpleasant sensations in the legs. This could be cramps, aching, pain, tingling or burning. Restless legs syndrome is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs.
Dietary fibre, explained.
Getting enough fibre in the diet is essential for health as research has shown that besides reducing constipation, it can help with weight management, may lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer. Dietary fibre is a type of complex carbohydrates found in plant-based foods that our digestive system […]
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term condition of the digestive system that causes episodes of abdominal cramps, bloating and changes in bowel movements. IBS is the name doctors give to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance in the digestive system and bowels habits. IBS is an illness that has no […]
Navigating the forest of life: Managing the stress response.
Pressure and stress are essential; they touch every aspect of our everyday life; helping us complete tasks, allowing us to learn new things and to be creative, and one is needed for our survival. There is an optimum level of pressure that brings about our best performance, allows us to take on new challenges hit […]
Understanding Coeliac Disease: What You Need to Know
Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition triggered by a reaction to gluten. It’s surprisingly common, affecting 1 in 100 people, but many are living with the condition undiagnosed.
Coccyx pain explained
The tailbone, or coccyx, sits at the very bottom of your spine, just below the sacrum. It’s a small, triangular bone that looks like a tiny tail. The coccyx comprises 3 to 5 small bones, called coccygeal vertebrae, which are held together by ligaments.
Calming the monkey mind
Mindfulness and meditation are everywhere; it’s being offered as a cure-all for everything from IBS and low-self esteem to help pain management and depression. There is good science to confirm the benefits, and growing research shows that when people train to be more mindful, they are rewiring the physical structure of their brain, but what […]
The Vagus Nerve, and your health
Like a super spy, the vagus nerve wanders around the body, reporting back to the brain subconsciously (secretly) with constant updates on what’s going on in our body. It is part of our protective stress response, noticing facial expressions, responding to people’s voices and monitoring our internal organs.
The Vagus Nerve, explained
The vagus nerve is the inner nerve centre leader, also known as the 10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X. It’s the longest of the 12 paired cranial nerves in the body and has the most extensive distribution because it passes through the neck and chest into the abdomen. The vagus nerve controls the entire […]
Delayed onset muscle soreness, explained.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness or DOMS is exercise-related muscle pain, which often peaks a day or two after the event. It is known as muscle fever, a beautiful exotic explanation to describe the distinctive muscle pain and soreness that nearly everyone experiences after intense or unfamiliar exercise. Muscle fever is a meaningful term because DOMS makes […]
Headaches, causes, red flags and treatment
Persistent and chronic headaches can be can affect every aspect of a person life; work, relationships, family and friends, and may disrupt social and travel plans at short notice. People living with frequent headaches are also at increased the risk of depression and other mood disorders.
Technology and Its Impact on Your Neck Health
Technology in all its forms is an increasingly integral part of daily life. Most adults (and many children) own and regularly use a smart device, and they’re brilliant tools that allow us to work, shop, book holidays, listen to music, read books, watch movies, learn new skills, and catch up with friends and family on […]
Not just the “Kiss of Time” Understanding Arthritis and its Impact
Have you ever felt an unexpected ache in your joints and wondered if it’s just age catching up with you—or is it something more like Arthritis?
Bone health: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Our bones are “living tissue.” of continually renewing cells, blood vessels nerves, and minerals. Osteopenia and Osteoporosis are conditions in which this process is affected causing bones to become weak with a higher risk for fractures.
Hip problems explained
Hip problems are common, the cause may be apparent, like an injury that comes on suddenly while gardening, running for the train or playing sports. However, sometimes the reason is not as clear, as symptoms may come on gradually. Hip problems can be one of the kisses of time problems and considered part of the […]
The shoulder, what goes wrong
Last time I talked about the shoulder joint structure and briefly highlighted what can go wrong. Here is a look at some of the common problems that cause shoulder and arm pain in a little more detail
Shoulder problems
Shoulder problems are widespread; the shoulder is the most mobile joint in your body because the main shoulder joint (the gleno-humeral joint) is a ball-and-socket joint. It sacrifices stability for mobility, and for this reason can be vulnerable to injury, dislocation, muscle fatigue and degeneration due habitual poor posture. vulnerable to injury and habitual poor […]
Modic Changes and Back Pain
About 50% of people with back pain following a disc herniation develop bone oedema, inflammation, or bone marrow lesions within a vertebral body. These are known as Modic changes and are related to poor healing and recurrent disc herniation. Their presence is significant because it was an independent predictor of intense and disabling low back pain episodes affecting recovery time and […]