Tag Archives - pain

Occipital neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is a subtype of headache that affects the back of the head (occipital region). It can present as a sharp piercing pain which can last from seconds to minutes. This can develop into debilitating chronic occipital pain. The cause of occipital neuralgia stems from damage of the greater occipital nerve, lesser occipital nerve…

Chronic Groin Pain

Chronic groin pain is a very tricky problem to treat.  In sport it is the 3rd most common reason after ACL and fracture for keeping players off the field.  Because of the extremely complicated anatomy of the groin, pain in this area can come from quite a few different structures within the groin or passing…

Chronic tail bone pain (Coccydynia)

I have seen quite a few patients now with chronic tail bone pain.  The medical term for this is coccydynia.   The common causes are childbirth and trauma, and women tend to have this condition more often than men.  The usual story is that the patient fell backwards onto their bottom and it’s been hurting ever…

Sciatica

Throughout the last 12 months, I would say that one of the most common problem I treat is sciatica.  The sciatic nerve is the body’s longest nerve and is a collection of nerves that originate from the lower lumbar to sacral nerves (L4 to S3).  The term sciatica refers to pain in the distribution of…

Chronic calf tightness

A 57 year old gentleman presents with chronic bilateral calf tightness for the past one year.  It is always aching, worse so after physical activity.  He required painkillers most nights due to the discomfort.  Stretching gives some temporary relief but the tightness always recurred.  Physiotherapy did not appear to achieve long lasting relief.  Examination indeed…

Shoulder blade (scapular) pain

This week I saw two patients in two days presenting with exactly the same complaint – a niggling pain around their shoulder blade (scapula).  Both walked out astounded.  One was a middle aged gentleman who had it for the past week and a half, and the other was a middle aged lady who had it…

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is becoming an increasingly common presentation.  Laser acupuncture is surprisingly effective for this condition. Plantar fasciitis is caused when the connective tissue joining the heel and the forefoot (plantar fascia) becomes inflamed.  Factors contributing to this are poor heel support in shoes; flat feet; jobs requiring prolonged standing; and being overweight/obese. The mainstay…

Subacromial Bursitis / Rotator Cuff Tear

Updated 20/01/2021: I want to share some of my insights over the years of treating shoulder pain. Subacromial bursitis or rotator cuff tear/tendinopathy on scans does not necessarily mean that is the cause of your shoulder pain. I’ve seen a lot of subacromial bursitis on ultrasounds and many of these patients have NO pain. The…