THIGH PAIN
What Are Muscle Spasms?
Muscle spasms are very common and can happen without warning. Perhaps you engage in a new physical activity, step the wrong way, or even sleep in an awkward position. This suddenly triggers a muscle spasm in your thigh and you cannot straighten or move without pain. Muscle spasms are the involuntary contraction or tensing of one or more muscles. They may occur in the legs, wrist, forearm, hand, neck, upper or lower back, and hips. Muscle spasms may be caused by heavy lifting, muscle overuse, weak muscles, nerve compression, spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, and many sports injuries. Some sports including golf, football, weightlifting and basketball that require the constant twisting of the spine may lead to back spasms. Spasms may seem to appear out of nowhere, however, typically small tears in the muscle may have developed over time. These tears may lead to swelling that compresses the nerves surrounding the muscle. This in turn sparks a muscle spasm that can cause pain, cramping or twitching.
Seek Treatment for these Symptoms:
- Muscle pain that does not dissipate on its own
- Constant muscle cramps
- Difficulty moving
- Muscle appears hard or distorted
Next Steps
If the muscle spasm does not resolve by itself after a few days of rest, icing the area for short periods of 10 to 20 minutes every two hours or using a heated pad, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, then seek treatment. Consult the Center for a diagnosis and for options. The spasm may be the result of an underlying condition that can be treated. Once identified, treatment options may include ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections, trigger point therapy, ultrasound guided prolotherapy injections or anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant medication. Ultrasound guided injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP), or stem cell therapy may be advised. If nerve entrapment is indicated then a steroid-free hydrodissection to release the nerve or ultrasound-guided nerve block injections will be recommended.
To learn more about the treatment and relief of Muscle Spasms please call our office at 212-867-1777.
Thigh Sprains, Strains and Tears
What is a Thigh Sprain, Strain or Tear?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the connective tissue that attaches bone to bone. Sprains may result from a direct blow to the thigh or twisting it in an unnatural position. It can occur from a fall, collision or contact sports. A strain is an injury to the muscles or the tendons that attach muscles to the bone. These typically result from overuse of the joint, particularly repetitive motions, and may occur while playing contact sports. Both sprains and strains have varying levels of severity. They may range from a mild over- stretching of the ligament, muscles or tendons to a slight rip or a complete tear.
Seek Treatment for these Symptoms:
- Thigh pain or stiffness
- Swelling, warmth or redness at the thigh
- Weakness when trying to move your leg
Next Steps
Consult the Center for a diagnosis and for treatment options. These include rest, ice, ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections and physical therapy. Additional highly specialized and cutting edge options for strains, if there is evidence of tendinosis, are ultrasound-guided tenotomy injections that destroy damaged tissue, followed by ultrasound-guided prolotherapy or ultrasound-guided injections of platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) to accelerate the growth of healthy replacement tissue.
To learn more about the treatment and relief of thigh sprains, strains and tears please call our office at 212-867-1777.
What Is Radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy is a group of conditions affecting one or more nerves in the spine. These nerves may become pinched or compressed, causing pain, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. The sciatic nerve, the large nerve that runs down the lower back, hip, buttocks, and back of leg to the foot may be compressed in the lower back as a result of a herniated disc or other spinal damage.
Radiculopathy commonly occurs in the cervical spine (neck), the thoracic spine (mid back)or the lumbar spine (lower back).
Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar radiculopathy are often caused by herniated discs in the vertebrae (bones of the spine) and spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the hole in the vertebrae through which spinal nerves exit. This places pressure on the nerves as they branch out from the spine. The compression may also be caused by an injury, overuse of muscles and tendons, poor posture, bone spurs, and arthritis.
Seek Treatment for these Symptoms:
- Pain that radiates outward from the injured nerve
- Numbness, tingling, burning sensation
- Muscle weakness
- Cervical radiculopathy affects the neck, upper back, shoulder, chest, arm,or hand.
- Thoracic radiculopathy affects the chest, ribs, shoulders, mid back or stomach area
- Lumbar radiculopathy causes sciatica which is an irritation of the large sciatic nerve located in the lower back. This causes pain to radiate down the back of the leg to the calf or foot called sciatica
- Pain may be aggravated by activities such as walking, climbing stairs or sitting
Next Steps
Consult the Center for a diagnosis and for treatment choices. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment options may include ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections, ultrasound -guided injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP), ultrasound-guided prolotherapy injections, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. If nerve entrapment is indicated then a steroid-free hydrodissection to release the nerve and ultrasound-guided nerve block injections will be recommended.
To learn more about cervical radiculopathy and its treatment please call our office at 212-867-1777.
