Muscle, Bone and Joint (earlier named Arthritis)

Most of us are familiar with the term Gout without being aware of its full implications. This FAQ briefs us about all that we need to know about the condition and how we can tackle it, should we be affected. 1.  What is Gout? Gout is a kind of arthritis where uric acid gets deposited in the joints and soft tissues. This, in turn, causes inflammation with redness, swelling, heat, pain and stiffness in the affected joint. Since the foot has numerous joints, the big toe is primarily affected…

When I was first diagnosed with RA, I remember reading an article that said “sometimes having arthritis means sitting on the sidelines while others dance at a wedding.” I was only 25 and, at the time, unmarried. I remember angrily thinking: but what if it’s my wedding? I have often been frustrated by the lack of good advice, resources, stories, and support for people diagnosed with RA at a young age. Though I am now happily married (and danced at my own wedding!) one…

Kalpana Kamdar, a Physiotherapist from Ahmedabad, points out the hazards of a bad sitting and sleeping posture that can dangerously overwork or overload the muscles causing severe pain and stiffness in the head, neck, shoulders and back. Here she recommends ways to correct the body alignment and get a perfect posture. Video of webinar recording below. DON’T LET BAD POSTURE BECOME A HABIT….!!! Case Study A 23-year-old law student came to me with severe pain on the left side of his neck. He…

Post-Menopause is tied to long-term health problems if wholesome food intake and regular physical activity is not practiced. Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju shares tips on what to eat and importance of exercise. Menopause is a natural biological process. It is the time when a woman stops menstruating. The hormones estrogen and progesterone production will be low and the ovaries no longer produce eggs. In women, estrogen is mainly produced in the ovaries. It is also produced in fat cells and…

We bring you a series of articles on good posture and good health by Kalpana Kamdar, a Physiotherapist from Ahmedabad. In the first article Physiotherapist Kamdar stresses the importance of a well aligned and balanced posture to protect the bones, muscles and the supporting structures from progressive deformity and injury. Video of webinar recording below. Seldom is the location of pain, the cause of the pain Case Study A 65 year old retired male, physically active at home. Chief complaint of…

Rare Disease Day 2017 RS Anand has a teenage son with a rare disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which restricts him to a wheelchair. He talks about the emotional and mental strength that they have needed to build on as family to accept and overcome the various challenges. Please tell us a bit about your son's condition  My son Karanveer has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The Muscular Dystrophies are a group of genetic diseases characterised by progressive weakness and degeneration of…

Sciatica pain can cause extreme distress. This is a quick analysis of what causes it and 6 tips on how we can try and prevent it. Sciatica Sciatica pain is the pain and tingling caused by the sciatica nerve. It is usually felt as an intense pain in the leg and the pain travels all the way down from the spine. Sciatica is not a condition but a symptom itself that can have various underlying reasons. Causes of Sciatica pain: Injury or trauma: Direct injury to the spinal column can cause nerve…

Chennai-based Aarthi Sampath was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive wasting of the muscles which defies cure. No one in her family understood its implications. This is a touching story of her trials and tribulations and her triumphs as well. I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a hereditary condition marked by progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles, in 1992 when I was only 11. THE DIAGNOSIS When my brother had his arm fractured, friends visiting my…

Vonita Singh from Dubai is a trained Kathak dancer who, through her unique initiative Movement Mantra, addresses the basic concerns of Parkinson’s Disease like balance, flexibility and coordination with rhythm and music. Vonita also pulls in caregivers for her programmes, making it holistic, with end results being therapeutic. Taking on disorders like Parkinson’s Disease and Arthritis is a formidable task, especially when you are neither a therapist nor a medical person. What gave you the…

Dr S M Akerkar, Consulting Rheumatologist, offers some useful tips for people with arthritis to get work done at home the easier way and to minimize the load on the joints. This is the second of the 2-part series. In the first part we read useful day to day tips on arranging the kitchen to make it easier for people with arthritis to continue to function.  How to arrange your kitchen if you have arthritis? Use shelves with 'easy to remove' features. Drawers mounted on rollers put less…