Pain Archive

Q. Because I'm a former smoker and was having leg pains, my doctor recommended that I have an ankle-brachial index test. He said my score was on the low side. What does that mean?

A. The ankle-brachial index is a test that measures blood pressure at the brachial artery (in the arm, close to the heart) and the ankle (far from the heart). Normally, blood pressure in the legs is the same or a little higher than in the arm, so the ratio between the arm and ankle is 1.0 or higher. A lower ratio (less than 0.95) means blood is not moving well in the lower half of your body. You may have peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is usually caused by a buildup of fatty deposits in arteries in the legs that limits blood flow to the muscles. People with significant leg pain and cramping during exercise—the most common symptoms of PAD—usually have an ankle-brachial ratio of 0.8 or less.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your reliance on medication to control symptoms and stay functional.

There's been a lot of research on what puts men at greater risk of back problems, like being overweight or sedentary. But we know less about what exactly triggers a bout of back pain. A new study in Arthritis Care and Research helps fill that gap.

The study involved 1,000 people who went to 300 different clinics in Australia with low back pain. The researchers carefully interviewed the participants to figure out when the back pain started and possible triggers they noticed within two hours of when the pain started.

It should be matched to the right pain condition and used for a limited time—then switch to safer options.

Over-the-counter pain relievers are great for ordinary aches and pains, but for severe, unrelenting pain that interferes with daily life, you may need something stronger. In such cases, men may end up taking medications called opioids, which block pain perception in the brain. The best-known opioid drugs are oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin).

The pain from an arthritic knee can be intense, limiting daily activities and independence. Men can try a range of medications, but overall acetaminophen (Tylenol, other brands) appears to relieve pain only slightly better than a placebo pill, according to a research review in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The researchers pooled results from 137 randomized clinical trials involving about 33,000 people with knee arthritis and compared the relative effectiveness of the following treatments:

The telltale sign is leg pain and fatigue that comes on with activity and goes away with rest.

Although these powerful pain relievers can be addictive, opioids are safe for most people when used properly.

Mobility relies on the body's two largest joints, the hips and knees. We ask a lot of both these joints: they must bear our full weight and coordinate movement over a lifetime of standing, walking, running, dancing, and sports. Not surprisingly, hip and knee pain are common complaints, and nearly everyone who lives into old age can expect some trouble with these joints. But taking care of your hips and knees and managing any pain that arises will help you avoid losing mobility as you age.

Try these self-help measures when knee or hip pain strikes:

For many people with rheumatoid arthritis, medication can help relieve symptoms and even limit joint damage. But nondrug approaches, such as physical and occupational therapy, are also essential to help reduce pain, improve range of motion, increase strength, and protect joints.

Specially trained clinicians can provide these nondrug treatments. Your primary care doctor or rheumatologist may refer you to a physiatrist, physical therapist, or occupational therapist, for example.

Long trips come with an increased risk of blood clots deep in the leg veins, which can have serious complications.