Pain Archive

Many older adults with scoliosis—a C- or S-shaped sideways spinal curve—aren’t aware of it. Others noticeably lean to one side, and some have pain and limited range of motion in the spine. Physical therapy, including core strengthening and improving the stability of the trunk, can help.

Tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, and Charcot joint can all strike people with diabetes. They mimic arthritis but have different causes.

Back and pelvic pain in people with Crohn’s can signal sacroiliitis or other joint inflammation. Learn how doctors sort this out from routine back strain.

Pain from gallstones (hardened, stonelike lumps of bile or other digestive fluids that block bile ducts) usually occurs in a distinct pattern. Gallstone attacks typically provoke steady, intense pain in the upper right abdomen that can radiate to the shoulder or back.

Chronic pain typically fluctuates during the day and some research suggests that it worsens at night, potentially interfering with sleep. If pain keeps you awake at night, trying these strategies may help you sleep better.

A 2026 study of people with carpal tunnel syndrome found that wearing a rigid wrist splint provided minimal improvement and did not improve symptoms better than wearing a soft bandage for 12 weeks. Rates of surgery within one year were also similar.

There are other conditions besides arthritis that can make walking difficult and even painful, such as peripheral artery disease, chronic venous insufficiency, lumbar spinal stenosis, and diabetic neuropathy.

The cause of most neck pain is strained or sprained muscles, ligaments, and tendons. First-line therapy is rest, ice, heat, pain relievers, and possibly limited use of a neck collar.

A cervical artery dissection is a tear in one of the arteries in the neck that carry blood to the brain. Although rare, it is one of the most common causes of stroke in people under age 50.

Muscle tightening or jerking during a severe migraine can have several explanations. Learn about the possible causes.