Muscoloskeletal Disorders
Back Pain
Symptoms
- Radiating pain that travels from the back or buttocks down to the feet
- Pins and needles or a tingling sensation in the legs
- Numbness in the legs
- Weakness in the legs, making it harder to move or bear weight
Disc Herniation
Symptoms
- Back pain radiating into the legs
- Neck pain radiating into the upper limbs
- Pain worsens with bending or twisting
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
Symptoms
- Wrist pain near the base of the thumb, which can radiate up the forearm
- Common after childbirth
Arthritis
Symptoms
- Degeneration of the joint
- Pain typically worsens when loading the joint (e.g. walking may worsen knee pain; shoulder rotation may worsen shoulder pain)
Neck Pain
Symptoms
- Common symptoms include muscle tightness or spasms, which often lead to stiffness or discomfort in the neck and upper back.
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Symptoms
- Individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy commonly experience pain in the outer part of the upper arm, which may also extend to the front and top of the shoulder.
Sports Injuries
Symptoms
- Injuries sustained during sports or exercise
- Acute injuries: sprains, strains, contusions, fractures
- Chronic injuries: repetitive stress injuries, tendinitis
Headaches & Facial Pain
Migraines
Symptoms
- Throbbing or pulsating headache
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound, and odors
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Aura (visual disturbances, numbness, or tingling in the face or limbs, usually 10-60 minutes before the headache starts)
Low Pressure Headaches
Symptoms
- Severe headache when upright
- Relief when lying flat
- Morning relief, worsening throughout the day
- Neck pain and discomfort
- Tinnitus (blocked ears or ringing)
- Nausea
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Symptoms
- Pain affecting one side of the face
- Sharp, electric shock-like pain
- Burning or stabbing pain
- Pain triggered by simple actions
Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias
Symptoms
- Severe, sharp, stabbing, or piercing pain: Usually localized to one side of the head.
- Autonomic symptoms
- Pain attacks
- Pain triggers
Nerve Pain
Shingles & Postherpetic Neuralgia
Diabetic Neuropathy
Symptoms
- Nerve pain presenting as shooting or lancinating pain
- Most common in the lower limbs, but upper limbs can also be affected
- Often associated with numbness
- Usually occurs in individuals with diabetes mellitus
Phantom Limb Pain
Entrapment Neuropathies
Symptoms
- Pain due to nerve entrapment
- Pain worsens when nerves are stretched
- Examples include piriformis syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome
Other Pain Conditions
Cancer Pain
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Symptoms
Leg pain or cramping (claudication), especially during exercise or walking.
Weakness or numbness in the affected leg(s).
Coldness or changes in skin color (pale, red, or blue) in the legs or feet.
Slow-healing sores or ulcers on the legs, feet, or toes.
Erectile dysfunction in men, which may be related to poor circulation.
Weak or absent pulses in the legs or feet.
