Blog Archive

When you sprain or tear your rotator cuff — a group of four muscles and tendons that form a “cuff” over your shoulder joint — the impact can range from a bothersome ache to searing, debilitating pain.  It’s a common problem for the weekend warrior, the heavy-lifting laborer, or anyone...

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts know all too well the risks that come with being active. A  painful misstep can quickly overshadow a satisfying workout, bringing on a surge of worry that you've just encountered a sprain or a strain.  But what exactly are these terms we toss around when discussing...

We treat all kinds of bone fractures at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute. It’s a common injury that can affect anyone, regardless of age or activity level. The causes can range from high-impact activities such as sports and accidents to simple missteps or falls.  If you have foot pain after...

We often meet patients who are suffering from hip pain at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  While hip pain has a reputation as an ailment for the elderly, don’t be fooled — about 30%-40% of young adult athletes report chronic hip pain, outpacing the 12%-15% of their...

If you wake up to a sharp, stabbing pain in your heels, you’re not alone — you’re in the company of about 33 million Americans with plantar fasciitis.  Joining that group may not bring you much comfort, but Dr. Bryan King and Dr. Jeffrey Cuomo at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint...

Whenever you see the suffix “itis” at the end of a word, you know it means something is inflamed. Therefore, tendonitis means you have a swollen tendon — and that’s bad news if you’re an athlete. Inflammation is an athlete’s enemy. It causes pain, slows your pace, interferes with your...

It’s no surprise that men and women have different health issues, but it might surprise you that the need for knee replacement surgery falls heavily in the women’s column. In fact, women undergo this procedure at a rate of 45.6% higher than men. Dr. Bryan King and Dr. Jeffrey Cuomo,...

A link between food and hip fractures may seem far-fetched, but there’s a clear connection: Bone loss and weakening occur with age Advancing age leads to an increased risk of falls  Weak bones fracture easily during a fall Some foods contain vitamins and minerals that strengthen your bones Over 300,000...

You’re 50-plus and feeling the clichéd aches and pains like most other seniors — and you want to know: Is it just in your mind, or is there a physiological reason for age-related back pain? Not only is there one physiological reason — there are four. Here, Dr. Bryan King...

If you have wrist or hand pain and are having trouble performing everyday tasks, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that affects the long nerve that runs through your forearm, wrist, and hand.  But soreness alone doesn’t mean you have carpal tunnel syndrome. To know for sure,...

If you’re an injured athlete, you have one question on your mind: When can I play again?  We get it.  Dr. Bryan King and Dr. Jeffrey Cuomo at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, work with athletes daily to treat their injuries and get them back in the...

If you think arthritis is to blame for your painful joints, you’re probably right. After all, over 58 million Americans have some form of arthritis — that’s 1 in 4 — so it’s a likely culprit. But don’t make a hasty self-diagnosis.  Several other conditions bring similar symptoms, and it...

Sprains and stress fractures can mess up your ankle for several weeks, but how do you know which type of injury you have? The best way is to see Dr. Bryan King or Dr. Jeffrey Cuomo at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Their experience and expertise enable...

We use (and sometimes abuse) our knees daily, so it’s not hard to imagine that knee pain is a common complaint. We see all kinds of knee problems at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but arthritis, ACL tears, and tendinitis are the most common. Below, Dr. Bryan King and Dr. Jeffrey Cuomo discuss each one,...

You have no history of shoulder pain, and you haven’t recently injured yourself, yet you wake up with pain in your shoulder that wrecks your morning routine and leaves you wondering — why? What could have happened during the night to create such agony. How can you get rid of...

Foot and ankle pain can stem from a long list of potential causes, and changing your footwear won’t heal a serious orthopedic condition — but not changing your footwear can make it much worse.   At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dr. Bryan King and Dr. Jeffrey...

Dealing with the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome is annoying and inconvenient at best and debilitating at worst. Your job and your life won’t be the same until you overcome the symptoms. Unfortunately, you may be exacerbating your condition with some seemingly harmless daily habits.  Dr. Bryan King and our team at Tuscaloosa Orthopedic...

Hip pain makes sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping difficult, so it’s tough to ignore. If over-the-counter pain medications and topical analgesics aren’t helping, joint injections may provide the relief you’ve long awaited. However, before you can be sure you’re a good candidate for hip joint injections, you need a professional diagnosis,...

Losing your grip strength isn’t just a nuisance. It can pose safety issues when cooking or driving, for example. There are many possible underlying causes of decreased grip strength — including carpal tunnel syndrome — and seeking medical intervention is the first step in reclaiming your grip strength. That’s just...

The term “knee pain” is too broad to describe the many causes and types of joint discomfort adequately. A minor ligament sprain differs from a torn meniscus, which differs from a dislocation, and arthritis pain feels different than bursitis.  Whatever’s causing your knee pain, we can help. Dr. Bryan King...

There are several types of bone fractures, from simple hairline fractures to complete breaks. How and where your bone breaks determine the treatment you need to aid the healing process. At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, our team, led by Dr. Bryan King, specializes in treating all kinds of fractures....

Every step you take involves muscle coordination, eye tracking, hearing, balance, and rhythm. Your gait is your unique stride pattern, and everyone’s is slightly different. Although there’s room for variety, if your gait falls too far outside the norm, it can lead to problems throughout your body. In many cases,...

Your median nerve runs the length of your forearm and into your hand and provides sensation to your index, middle, and ring fingers, as well as your thumb.  Conveniently, the tendons, bones, ligaments, and muscles in your forearm and wrist create the carpal tunnel, a passageway that allows the median...

With enough force, you can dislocate any joint in your body, but the ones that tend to slip out of place most often are those that give you the most mobility.  For example, your hips and shoulders have ball-and-socket joints that allow them to move in multiple directions. This flexibility, however, makes them vulnerable...

Before the invention of shoes, people walked around barefoot or with minimal protection. Then the first type of “shoe” was merely a scrap of leather wrapped around the foot and secured with a strip of rawhide. But if you think that what was good enough for your ancestors is good...

Bones are pretty sturdy, but they’re not invincible. They can handle running and jumping, but they’re no match for a head-on car collision or a tackle on the gridiron. Depending on the amount of force and the position of your bone at impact, your bones can suffer any of several...

Miners, fighter pilots, loggers, and the like all understand and willingly accept the risks of their occupations. But if you steered clear of those obviously life-endangering careers and opted for a less adventurous path, you may be surprised to hear that you’re not entirely in the clear.  Your desk job...

Every time you hop, skip, and jump, you put a lot of pressure on your joints — namely your ankles, knees, and hips. Wear-and-tear is inevitable as you age, but you may be able to avoid injury if you take steps to protect your joints. At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint...

Your thigh bone is one of the strongest in your body, and it’s pretty resilient. However, the upper section includes a ball-shaped knob that forms part of your hip socket, and it’s susceptible to fractures if you take a hard fall or get into a car crash.  For young people,...

Bone spurs can occur in your spine, hands, hips, knees, and shoulders, but your feet, heels, and ankles are especially susceptible. These growths, called osteophytes, develop on healthy bone tissue and jut out from the surface. They can cause intense pain in many cases. When you’re looking for relief from...

A slip down the stairs, a trip off a curb, or any kind of hard blow, compression, or force can break your bones, which means everyone is at risk to some degree. But certain factors increase your risk and make you more susceptible to sustaining a fracture in situations where...

About 25% of adults experience chronic knee pain, with osteoarthritis being the most common cause. Other common causes of knee pain include injury, overuse, and inflammation.  Knee pain is not only common; it can also be problematic. It can prevent you from doing things you love, like participating in sports...

Although it’s too early to estimate the pandemic's effect on rates of carpal tunnel syndrome, the numbers have likely increased. With people working from home at their kitchen table or beds, it's probable that their posture and hand positioning are not ideal.  Repetitive awkward motions can create pressure on the...

Your knee is the biggest joint in your body. It’s involved in pretty much all of your lower-body movements. Furthermore, it can withstand as much as five times your body weight.  However, with all of the action your knee gets, it’s also the source of many injuries. In fact, it’s...

The hip is a complex joint and a common source of pain. How common? Hip pain affects 30-40% of people who play sports. In the general population, it strikes 12-15% of people over age 60.  The most common causes of hip pain are arthritis, overuse injuries such as tendinitis and...

Before explaining the difference between a stress fracture and a regular fracture, it’s important to explain that any type of fracture is a break in a bone. There are many types of fractures, however. Regular and stress fractures are common injuries, especially among athletes.  Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Bryan King, MD,...

There are several ways people can hurt their feet and ankles. Injuries from trauma or wear and tear are two of the most common reasons people have foot problems. Foot problems are also a common issue for people with diabetes. If the disease doesn’t cause the problem, it can still ...

Hip and knee replacement surgeries are effective ways to treat advanced arthritis. Both surgeries have high success rates. However, full recovery from either a hip or a knee procedure can take several weeks to several months. After surgery and after your discharge, your rehabilitation starts. Before your surgery, however, you...

Physical therapists are specialists who help people return to their normal level of physical strength, agility, and mobility after an accident or injury. They create an individualized treatment plan based on your musculoskeletal issue or injury.  Often, physical therapy is the first line of treatment for an injury. It's a...

The pandemic has changed life in many ways for almost everyone. Some people are eating too much, and others are drinking too much. Some are spending more quality time with their children, and others are filing for divorce from their partners.  You may be surprised to learn of another pandemic-related...

When the cold weather brings out the hats and gloves, does it also bring on achy joints? If so, you’re not alone. Stiffness, achy joints, and pain are often associated with cold, dry weather.  Although the medical community doesn’t know exactly why this is, it’s believed to have something to...

Your hip is one of the largest joints in your body. When it's damaged, it can leave you dealing with a great deal of pain and stiffness, sometimes enough to severely impact your daily movements and quality of life.  There are many nonsurgical ways to address hip pain, but hip...

Foot pain is hard to ignore. It can impact your mobility, your sleep, and your ability to perform everyday tasks. Pain can develop in your toes, heels, arches, and soles. Foot pain can result from an accident or injury, a medical condition such as diabetes, improper footwear, or overuse or...

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve disorder, affecting up to 10 million adults. People of all ages can develop carpal tunnel syndrome, but it mostly affects middle-aged adults, with risk increasing as you age and with women developing it three times more often than men. Common symptoms of...

Playing sports is great for your physical and mental health. It can teach children about teamwork, and it’s a great way for adults to socialize while getting physical activity. However, if you play sports, you’re definitely at risk for a sports-related injury.  According to the federal Centers for Disease Control...

More and more doctors are using minimally invasive surgical techniques instead of traditional open surgeries for a wider range of injuries and conditions.  Since the 1980s, when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was introduced, numerous improvements and advancements have made MIS the preferred method of surgery in most cases.  One of...

While complaining of tennis elbow may make you sound athletic, there are numerous ways to develop this painful condition. In fact, only 5% of cases of tennis elbow actually come from playing tennis. Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury of the tendons that attach your forearm...

Hip pain is a common complaint, and it’s easy to see why. Your hips support your body's weight while you do most daily activities such as walking, running, and standing. It’s one of the largest and strongest joints in your body, but over time, cartilage, muscles, and tendons can get...

Knee replacement surgery, also called knee arthroplasty, is a common surgery performed almost 1 million times a year. The surgery has an excellent long-term track record, with a low complication rate and a high satisfaction rate. More than 90% of people who have total knee replacement surgery have positive long-term...

Playing a team or individual sport is a great way to stay in shape, have fun, and make friends. The majority of adults who play sports say they play because it’s fun, and it improves their mental and physical health. Most of those who play sports also say they play...

Shoulder pain is common, especially among athletes and older people. One of the reasons shoulder pain is such a frequent complaint is because of the complex makeup of the shoulder.   With several bones and a variety of soft tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles that work together...

Being active comes with many rewards and a few risks. Some benefits of exercise and regular physical activity include a reduced risk of heart disease, improved mental health, and weight control. On the flip side, the more you move, the more likely you are to get injured. One such injury...

While the most common cause of joint pain is arthritis, not every swollen knee or stiff elbow is the result of an arthritic condition. You could have a different problem altogether, and it’s important to have a joint specialist who explores all avenues to arrive at the right diagnosis, not...

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries among children and adults. Around 25,000 people sprain their ankles every day. Ankle sprains are a minor injury that can worsen if not properly treated. With over 10 years of experience in healing a variety of orthopedic issues, Dr. Bryan King...

If you sit at a computer and type all day, you might think the pains of carpal tunnel syndrome is unavoidable. But rest easy — it’s not inevitable. Here are the facts about carpal tunnel syndrome, thanks to Dr. Bryan King and our team at the Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint...

Ankle injuries are extremely common with 25,000 people spraining their ankle daily. But sprains aren’t the only injuries that happen to this joint. Fractures and acute tendonitis are also possible. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you should seek medical help for an ankle injury. After all, you can rest...

As baby boomers move toward retirement, many are developing osteoarthritis, a wear and tear form of joint deterioration. One of the most common sites of osteoarthritis pain and mobility reduction is in the knee. As osteoarthritis progresses, the protective cartilage that covers the ends of the leg bones in the...

Are you an athlete recovering from a rotator cuff injury, or rotator cuff surgery, and wondering when it’s okay to get back in the game? Many people, but especially athletes, suffer from rotator cuff injuries every year. This occurs when the tendons and muscles around your shoulder joint get hurt...

Senior citizens used to have the corner on hip replacement surgery, but not any more. Advanced osteoarthritis is the main culprit behind a patient’s decision to get a hip replacement. Other primary causes are Injury and overuse. All three conditions deteriorate joints that cause chronic pain and limit mobility. Regardless...