Pain Archive

Self-help steps can often chase away plantar fasciitis. For tough cases, make surgery your last option.

Plantar fasciitis is a common and painful overuse injury. It happens when the tough band of connecting tissue on the underside of the foot (the plantar fascia) develops tiny tears where it attaches to the heel bone. The good news is that plantar fasciitis usually gets better after a brief period of basic at-home care. "With rest, stretching, and avoiding the activity that is bothering you, it can go away in a couple of weeks," says Dr. A. Holly Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle problems at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. "Sometimes it can take a few months for the pain to settle down, however."

Q. I have sciatica. I also have vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. I'd like to get physical therapy for my sciatica but am worried about damaging my spine further. What do you advise?

A. I am glad that you are interested in pursuing physical therapy to treat the sciatica. It's the best treatment for it. The physical therapist is likely to show you how to do gentle stretching exercises for your upper legs, buttocks, and back, as well as how to use your back, core, and legs more effectively to avoid worsening the strain on your sciatic nerve. She will also train you to do exercises to strengthen your back and core. None of these maneuvers will damage the bones in your back. But it's important for you to tell the therapist that you do have osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. She will keep that in mind as she works with you.

When your back is bothering you and you don't want to take prescription drugs, over-the-counter solutions and physical therapies can help relieve symptoms.

Painful knees and sleeplessness often go hand in hand, but a form of counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with both problems, according to a study in Arthritis and Rheumatology.

The study involved 100 people ages 50 to 70 with wear-and-tear arthritis (osteoarthritis) in the knee as well as insomnia. They were chosen at random for either eight sessions of CBT or a comparison treatment, called desensitization therapy, known not to be very effective for insomnia.

Although ankle injuries can be painful and disabling, many are preventable, and most are easily treated.

Ankle injuries are among the most common joint problems. Every year, nine million people sprain an ankle, and tens of thousands more sustain fractures. Ankle injuries often stem from falls and accidents. Several factors—from poor balance, to loss of elasticity in tendons and ligaments, to ill-fitting shoes—can increase the risk of injury, says Dr. Christopher Chiodo, an orthopedic surgeon at -Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital's foot and ankle center.

Spinal stenosis—narrowing of the spinal canal that increases pressure on spinal nerves—is a common source of lower back pain and weakness. Although many people assume that surgery to remove pressure on the nerves is the most effective way to bring relief, there is little evidence to support that assumption. A study reported in the April 7, 2015, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that physical therapy may be just as effective as back surgery in providing pain relief and enabling people to get around better.

For the study, 169 men and women with disabling spinal stenosis were randomly assigned to two groups—87 to have surgery and 82 to have intensive physical therapy. Two years later, both groups had similar results on physical function tests. However, 33 of the patients who underwent surgery had complications, usually requiring more surgery.

Physical therapy and weight loss can relieve knee pain and protect your mobility.

A few simple measures can protect your most flexible joint and put it back in service after overuse or injury.

All you need to do is rotate your arm to realize what a marvel your shoulder is. It's the body's most flexible joint and one of the most essential. Whether you're reaching the top shelf, swinging a golf club, or washing your hair, "it's the one joint you can't stop using," says Karen Weber, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. "We do a lot of repetitive motions with our arms. When our shoulder muscles aren't strong, we can set ourselves up for injury," Weber says.

Q. I'm a 78-year-old athlete and dancer. Three years ago, I broke my hip. After it was repaired I completed extensive physical therapy. Since then, I've been working out at a gym using the treadmill, stationary bicycle, and rowing machine. But I still have tremendous pain in my thigh. Should I stop exercising? It helps me control my weight and blood pressure.

A. I applaud you for persisting with your exercise. You're not only keeping your weight and blood pressure down but you're also building stronger bones to help prevent fractures in the future.

Relaxation, meditation, positive thinking, and other mind-body techniques can help reduce your need for pain medication.

Drugs are very good at getting rid of pain, but they often have unpleasant, and even serious, side effects when used for a long time. If you have backache, fibromyalgia, arthritis, or other chronic pain that interferes with your daily life, you may be looking for a way to relieve discomfort that doesn't involve drugs. Some age-old techniques—including meditation and yoga—as well as newer variations may help reduce your need for pain medication.