Hip dysplasia describes an abnormally shaped hip joint — usually a socket that's too shallow for the ball. The abnormality develops in childhood, but if it isn't detected, it can present in young adults as activity-related hip pain. So what is hip dysplasia in adults, and what should you do about it in the [...]
Ankle arthritis is less common than knee or hip arthritis. The most common joint affected is the ankle joint between the leg (tibia) and the ankle (talus). Simple treatments like activity modification, exercise, and shoe selection can help. However, an ankle injection helps in more complex cases. Sometimes, we use a steroid injection into [...]
A calcaneal stress fracture is an overuse injury of the heel bone (the calcaneus). It's a common cause of heel pain in runners, military recruits, and people who suddenly increase their activity. Because it can mimic more common causes of heel pain, such as plantar fasciitis, it's often missed. So how does a heel [...]
A Baker's cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, arises from the knee joint and causes a lump at the back of the knee. We usually confirm the diagnosis by seeing a Baker's cyst on ultrasound. Sometimes a Baker's cyst drainage is needed to relieve pressure at the back of the knee, but is drainage [...]
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled capsules that commonly form on the top of the wrist, though they can develop around any joint or tendon. Removing the fluid — aspiration of a ganglion cyst — is an option when the cyst becomes large or painful. We often perform ultrasound-guided aspiration of ganglion cysts for accuracy and [...]
Gout is an inflammatory joint disease that commonly affects men in their 40s and 50s, sometimes younger. It causes severe pain and swelling, and most people want one thing during an attack — immediate relief. So what stops gout pain immediately, is a cortisone injection an option, and how do you get rid of [...]
Achilles tendonitis is common among middle-aged runners and among elite and amateur athletes. The usual cause is too much load on the tendon, with obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol raising the risk. But some antibiotics can trigger tendon damage, while one may help. So are antibiotics and Achilles tendons harmful or useful? This guide [...]
Arthritis of the big toe — hallux rigidus — is a common cause of pain and stiffness. Where simple treatments haven't worked, a cortisone shot in the big toe joint can help. So when should you consider a steroid injection in the big toe joint, and what are the options? When is a cortisone [...]
If you are a runner with an ache in the back of your upper thigh or buttock — close to your 'sit bones' — you may have proximal hamstring tendinopathy. It develops gradually in response to excessive running, unlike an acute hamstring strain, which strikes out of the blue. This guide covers exercises for [...]
Arthritis and tendonitis affect a large part of the population. For people who play sports or run, the pain and swelling can stop them from participating altogether. One proven option is a hyaluronic acid injection — also called a gel injection or viscosupplementation. Dr Masci performs hyaluronic acid injections under ultrasound guidance at his [...]
