The Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament that gives stability to the knees. An injury to this ligament can result in a host of complications and discomfort. Children or adults who are into sports such as gymnastics, volleyball, tennis, basketball, soccer, football, often injure this ligament. As per various studies and surveys, ACL injury is more likely to affect female athletes as compared to their male counterparts.

Depending on the severity and extent of the damage, an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury may be ranked on a grade of 3.

Grade 1 sprains indicate a mild injury or stretching of the ligament, seldom affecting the stability of the knees.
Grade 2 sprains are indicative of a partial ligament tear (the ligament loosen up). The damage is still under control.
Grade 3 sprains are extensive and severe, indicating a complete ligament tear (the ligament often breaks in two pieces). With a complete ligament tear, the stability of the knee is also affected (the knee becomes highly unstable).
What causes Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury?
While a host of sports activities mentioned above increases the risk of the injury, a person may also suffer a partial or a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear under the following situations.

A jump down a ladder, a tree, or a wall. An incorrect jump or a landing may be equally responsible for the ligament tear.
A collision or a hit, especially on the knee (while playing football).
Slowing down suddenly while still in running motion. A person suddenly stopping or missing a step can also injure the ligament.
Symptoms associated with ACL injury

An excruciating pain (especially in the back and outside of the knee) is often seen in people with a complete ligament tear (the movement is yet not affected). However, within a few hours, there may a swelling around the knee, indicating the severity of the injury with internal bleeding within the knee joints.
There may be restricted knee movement. The knee also feels unstable, further limiting the movement.
Sometimes a pop in the knee can be heard just at the time of the ACL injury.
Prolonged ACL injury left unattended can result in a painful complication such as knee osteoarthritis.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the extent of the damage, the doctor may suggest

Physical examination, including a quick brief about the case history.
Imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI can go a long way to analyze the ligament injury.
In the case of extensive swelling of the knees, the doctor may carry out an arthroscopy to have a closer look inside of the knee.
An accurate and timely diagnosis is important to avoid the aggravation of the injury. In the case of swelling and knee pain, consult a doctor, and get yourself thoroughly examined.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury- Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Vertebroplasty means shaping the backbone i.e. vertebra for backbone and plasty is related to shape. This is an outpatient procedure done to treat compression fractures of the spinal cord. The backbone is made up of multiple small bones which are stacked one on top of the other with a filling material in between that is known as vertebrae. The stack of bones are held in place by the soft, elastic vertebral material. 

Vertebroplasty & similar procedure called kyphoplasty is a non-surgical procedure where collapsed vertebrae is brought back to shape by injecting medical bone cement under fluroscopy / image intensifier in OT, thereby relieving pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves with special canula directed to the core of vertebral body. Indicated in osteoporotic vertebrae, spinal fracture, metastatic tumour or primary tumour of spine. This technique has replaced major surgery done earlier to reshape & fix vertabrae.

Technique: Bone cement, in a semisolid state, is injected into the weakened or fractured bone space. Once this solidifies, it provides additional support to the spine, enabling normal movement. It also helps in reducing the pain significantly and improves the overall mobility.

Procedure:

In what takes about an hour, the following steps are done. Earlier, a few decades ago, this would be an open surgical procedure. However, with advance technology, now it is done using a small incision

Local anesthesia is given in the area that needs to be operated
A biopsy needle is inserted into the fractured space with the help of an X-ray
The acrylic bone cement is injected into the bone space with a needle to fill up the space, once it solidifies, it stabilizes the vertebral space
The needle is removed and the incision is covered with a bandage
Usually the patient is sent home in an hour s time unless the overall condition is really bad
There could be some soreness at the site where injection is given, but one can notice a significant reduction in pain from the day of the procedure
There is also improvement in mobility while doing daily chores
The pain relief can last up to 3 years after the procedure
Returning back to normal activities takes about 3 to 4 days after the procedure
When to use this procedure?

Vertebroplasty is usually done in case of non-radicular pain that is intractable. In most cases, they do not respond to traditional therapies including physiotherapy, pain medications and even surgery. The pain could be due to:

Osteoporosis
Cancer metastasis
Myeloma
Spinal hemangiomas
Traumatic fractures
Benefits of using vertebroplasty for managing pain 

Minimally invasive
Effective way to get relief
Improves mobility
Cost-effective
Reduces need for long-term use of painkillers
Stabilizes the spine and prevents further collapse

Vertebroplasty - How It Can Help Manage Pain?

Are you prone to slipped disc problem? + the ideal way to treat it

A slipped disc, also known as a prolapsed disc or herniated disc, is the term given to the phenomenon that occurs when a cartilaginous disc found between the vertebrae in the spine becomes slightly displaced or protrudes, thereby pressing on the nerves in the adjacent areas and causing back pain.
This happens when the soft inner part of the disc, known as nucleus pulposus, bulges out through a weakness in the exterior part of the disc. A prolapsed disc usually occurs in the lower region of the spine and can be of varying sizes. There might even be the development of inflammation around the disc in some cases.

Who is likely to get affected?
Most cases of herniated disc occur in patients between the ages of 30 and 50. The number of men affected is twice as many as the number of women.
Although the root cause of this problem is not yet known, there are a number of factors that may trigger it. These factors include working at a job that requires a lot of lifting, an occupation that involves remaining in a seated position for a long time, weight-bearing sports, obesity, smoking habits and increasing age.

Effective ways of treating the problem
The different methods that are commonly used to treat the problem are:
Medications
There are many different kinds of medicines that are effective in providing relief. These include painkillers, muscles relaxants, anti-inflammatory pills, etc.

Spinal injections
A number of spinal injections are used to treat slipped discs. The injection is done at the opening where the inflamed nerve roots are found and reduces pain, swelling and irritation in the area.

Radiofrequency ablation
This procedure makes use of an electrical current produced by radio waves to reduced pain and sensitivity in the affected area.

Ozone discectomy
As opposed to the surgical removal of the prolapsed disc, this new process makes use of an ozone-oxygen mixture that is injected into the spine to treat the problem. Many international studies have proved its superiority to traditional methods and surgeries.

Those affected by this problem are advised to keep exercising and continuing with their everyday activities as best as possible.



Why You Can Get a Slipped Disc Problem?

A pain in the neck, both in the metaphorical and the literal sense of the term can be quite discomforting. If we look at it from a medical point of view, the pain in the neck could be a serious sign of something being amiss and so, keeping in mind the causes of such a pain is just so important!

Recognizing the Type of Neck Pain

A pain in the neck can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Also, it need not also follow the textbook definition of the term. As a matter of fact, tingling, tenderness or numbness can also be significant symptoms of neck pain. Another major symptom can be having difficulty while swallowing. This could be much more crucial than just a problem with the digestive system.

Many cases that doctors come across when a patient comes to consult about a pain in the neck are regarding an issue with the spinal cord. At in certain cases, it could be related to an issue with the muscles which are located in the area.

When a person has neck pain, he or she should think back and try to remember if he or she was in an incident where the neck could have possibly been the recipient of some sort of impact. This could be a possible explanation of the pain. Also, if there is a pain in the neck after an incident, it is better not to delay a visit to the doctor as the person is likely to be uncomfortable. The neglect is this condition can also lead to the problem getting progressively worse.

In some cases, a pain in the neck can even be congenital. A very good example of this is wry neck, or torticollis. When a pain in the neck is diagnosed by the doctor, figuring out what the likely cause is quite an important thing to do and should be the first thing which is done by him or her as the various ways to treat a pain in the neck vary according to the cause of it.

The problem of neck pain is very common as two third of the population suffers from it at some point in their lives. This does not mean that it needs to affect a person's quality of life. The right precautions and proper medication can make sure that his or her neck is not on the line!

Causes of Neck Pain and Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with cancer is something no one looks forward to and Gynaecological Cancer is every woman s worst nightmare. However, if diagnosed in time, it can be treated. Cancer in any part of a woman s reproductive system is termed as gynecological cancer. It is of five types:
Cervical cancer
Ovarian cancer
Vaginal cancer
Vulvar cancer and
Uterine cancer
Paying attention to your body and understanding its natural rhythm can help you recognize signs of gynecological cancer. This is because signs of gynecological cancer can be difficult to identify unless you know your body. Here are a five signs to watch out for-
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: Bleeding in between periods is okay once in a while but if it happens continuously over a period of 2 to 3 months, do not ignore it. Vaginal bleeding after menopause should also never be ignored. Abnormal bleeding could be triggered by a number of conditions including cancer of the lining of the uterus. Sudden changes in your menstrual blood that persist for over 2 cycles such as heavy bleeding can also be a symptom of uterine cancer. Heavy bleeding can be defined as a period that lasts for over 7 days.
Changes in the Vulva: Any change in colour of development of bumps, sores of thickened skin should be immediately shown to a gynecologist. Any form of vulvar itching or burning should also not be ignored. These conditions could be symptoms of vulvar cancer. Hence, it is important to know what your vulva looks like normally.
Bloating: Persistent bloating that lasts for over a fortnight can be a sign of ovarian cancer. This is especially true in cases of bloating accompanied by sudden weight loss or between-period bleeding.
Change in Bathroom Habits: Due to the proximity of the bladder to the reproductive organs, a tumour or swelling in the reproductive organs can trigger symptoms similar to those of a urinary tract infection. This includes pain while urinating, difficulty passing urine, diarrhea or constipation. Urinary incontinence could also a sign of gynecological cancer.
Abdominal or Back Pain: In rare cases, lower back pain could be a sign of ovarian cancer or uterine cancer. Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area can also be a sign of ovarian cancer.
The above could also be signs of other health disorders. The only way of knowing for sure is by consulting a doctor. Hence, understand your body and if you notice any of these symptoms consult your gynecologist at the earliest. 

Signs of Gynecological Cancer

The toes and heels are the most load bearing components within your feet which take most of the weight when walking, running, exercising or even standing up. The heels are an especially vulnerable part of the body which can become painful either due to injuries or excessive stress put on it. Pain in your heels can also be a sign of other problems in your body.

Causes for heel pain:

1. Sprains or straining the leg: Exercising is one of the most common culprits behind heel damage. Wearing the wrong shoes over prolonged periods, which can cause your balance to be shifted and will lead you to put strain on your heels and cause pain. Falling or spraining during exercising or training can also cause heel pain.

2. Fractures: Stress or hairline fractures can occur even without impacts or trauma and also cause pain. It will slowly build up over time. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor and take remedial action.

3. Achilles tendon: A common cause for heel pain, the Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel. If this is torn or damaged, it can cause pain in your heel.

4. Arthritis: The deposition of uric acid crystals in parts of your body may result in arthritis; this is a fairly common cause for heel pain as well.

Treatments available

1. Change in shoes: Shoes play a major role in the development of heel pain. You will either need to change the shoes or adjust the heels to ensure that they are at an equal and comfortable height and keep your posture natural and balanced.

2. Foot supports: There are specialized heel supports and wedges, which you can wear with the footwear. These supports help redistribute weight from the problem areas and uniformly distribute it among the other parts of the foot. Heel cups are also another form of supports you could try.

3. Pain relief medications: Sometimes aspirin or ibuprofen may be required to numb and dull the pain, if getting through the day becomes difficult or you are in the middle of work.

4. Resting: Sometimes resting is the only medication you can take to relieve the pain as it can only subside once the underlying conditions are corrected.

5. Ice packs: Cold compress and cold therapy would definitely help in numbing the area and providing temporary pain relief.

It is however, advisable to visit the doctor if the pain persists and take specialized medical care in more complicated cases wherein the pain is prolonged.

Heel Pain its Causes and Treatments

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