Guides through the decision to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for low back pain. Discusses the problems an MRI can find and why it may not show the source of pain. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Briefly discusses the hip joint and various causes of hip problems in children, including problems from birth (congenital), conditions causing inflammation, and infections. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Briefly discusses symptoms of leg injuries caused during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, and work or projects around home. Includes bruises, swelling, sprains, pulled muscles, and broken bones. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Covers causes of hip fractures. Includes list of things that increase risk. Describes symptoms and how hip fractures are diagnosed. Covers treatment choices. Offers prevention tips, including ways to slow osteoporosis.

Briefly discusses the hip joint and various causes of hip injuries, including overuse injuries, fractures, and dislocations. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Briefly discusses common causes of arm injuries from sports, hobbies, and work-related issues, including sudden injuries and those caused by overuse. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Covers surgical removal of herniated disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord. Discusses why it may be done such as for a bulging disc, to relieve pain, or help prevent serious nerve damage. Looks at how well it works and risks.

Briefly discusses conditions, such as gout, pinched nerve, bursitis, tennis elbow, and golfer's elbow, that may cause elbow problems. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Covers shoulder surgery to replace the ends of bones in a damaged joint. Includes what to expect after surgery, continued recovery, and living with a shoulder replacement. Looks at why it is done, how well it works, and the risks of surgery.

Encephalitis is a swelling (inflammation) of the brain. It is usually caused by a virus. The normal blood flow to the brain changes. This can cause confusion, a high fever, and a severe headache. You also may be sleepy and sensitive to light. And you may have nausea and a stiff neck and back. In more serious cases, a...

Briefly discusses common causes of finger, hand, or wrist injuries from sports, hobbies, or work-related issues, including sudden injuries and those caused by overuse. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Provides step-by-step instructions for a sample set of exercises for an ankle sprain. Includes range-of-motion, stretching, strengthening, and balance exercises. Cautions that timing for starting each type of exercise depends on the care provider's recommendations.

Health insurance helps you pay for your health care costs. Having insurance can help protect you from high medical costs, and it may help cover expenses if you need unexpected care. It also can make it easier to have routine doctor visits and...

What is bursitis? Bursitis is a painful swelling of a small sac of fluid called a bursa. Bursae (plural of bursa) cushion and lubricate areas where tendons, ligaments, skin, muscles, or bones rub against each other. Doing the same movement over and over or putting continued pressure on a joint can cause bursitis. What...

Learn the basics about spinal manipulation as a treatment option for back pain.

Most people have muscle pain from time to time. But the pain from myofascial pain syndrome is an ongoing or longer-lasting pain. With myofascial pain, there are areas called trigger points. Trigger points are usually in the connective tissue (fascia) or in a tight muscle. Myofascial pain often goes away with treatment...

Draining mucus from the lungs and coughing it up can help to clear the lungs. Doing this every day can help your child maintain lung function and avoid problems from mucus. Here are three ways to help clear your child's lungs. You may hear these called airway clearance techniques, or ACT. Postural drainage uses certain...

A sprain is an injury to the tough ropey fibers (ligaments) that connect bone to bone. Symptoms of a sprain may be mild or severe, and they may sometimes be mistaken for a broken bone (fracture) because some injuries can cause a sprain and a fracture in the same area. First-degree sprains stretch the ligaments but do...

What are sexual problems? A sexual problem is something that keeps sex from being satisfying or positive. Most people have symptoms of a sexual problem at one time or another. For some, the symptoms are ongoing. But your symptoms are only a sexual problem if they bother you or cause problems in your relationship. There...

Covers the causes and symptoms of upper and middle back pain. Looks at treatment with rest, pain medicine, and surgery. Includes steps to prevent back pain from returning, such as practicing good posture and getting regular exercise.

A neural tube defect (NTD) is a birth defect that occurs when the spine, the brain, or the bone and skin that protect them do not develop properly. Neural tube defects can be found with prenatal tests, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis. The neural tube is the part of a developing fetus that grows into the spinal cord...

Offers tips and exercises for easing back pain during pregnancy. Explains when to seek help for back pain during pregnancy.

Surgery may be used to treat a torn rotator cuff if the injury is very severe or if nonsurgical treatment has not improved shoulder strength and movement sufficiently. Surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon usually involves: Removing loose...

Covers the various types of prostatitis, including acute bacterial, inflammatory, noninflammatory, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Covers symptoms for each type. Discusses treatment for each type. Covers lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgery.

Offers tips for stretching and flexibility. Provides step-by-step instructions and photos for basic stretching exercises.