By: Meg Irish

Many of us do not expect to have aches and pains in our hands, but one condition, de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, commonly affects women more often than men. At times called “mommy’s wrist” as the condition frequently occurs in moms with newborns. However, this condition has been described widely across all genders and ages.

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a condition of the wrist where the tendons to the thumb, which cross the wrist, become inflamed and the soft tissue tunnel thickens. Initial signs of discomfort include radial sided, or thumb-sided, wrist pain, popping when moving the thumb, and numbness or swelling of the thumb. The pain often increases when gripping or rotating the wrist. Read more

By: Meg Irish

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a weekend warrior, there’s no doubt you are more susceptible to injury, particularly foot and ankle injuries. This can be a hard pill to swallow for athletes limiting their ability to run, jump, and even walk.

When our feet aren’t able to effectively pick up the load, other structures and tissues are bound to compensate, which sets the stage for injury. Our feet serve as the foundation for the rest of our body. Ensuring they are functioning properly plays a vital role in performance and health. Often athletes unwittingly sacrifice their feet, setting themselves up for injury. Here are a few of the most common foot and ankle problems to watch for and preventative measures to keep you in the game.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury and is linked to athletes who perform sports with repetitive action or abrupt motion, such as tennis, soccer, or dance. This causes intense strain on the tendon and will result in inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Treatment for this condition varies depending on severity. For moderate injuries, Sara E. Zelinskas, DPM of TPMG Foot and Ankle in Virginia Beach recommends the following treatments: heel lift, night splint, and physical therapy to help reduce inflammation and strengthen the affected area. Read more

The difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist is not common knowledge but choosing an eye care provider is an important healthcare decision.

Ophthalmologists

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specializing in eye and vision care who receives twelve or more years of training and education. Ophthalmologists are licensed to practice medicine and surgery and this advanced training gives them the ability to diagnose and treat a wider degree of conditions than optometrists. Since ophthalmologists are medical doctors, they often can be the first one to recognize signs of hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid disease, tumors, autoimmune disease, and more.

“In the eyes, you actually have an unobstructed view of microcirculation when you’re looking at the blood vessels in the retina.  There is nowhere else in the body that you have this direct view, other than surgically, so it’s important for individuals with issues of circulation, like hypertension and diabetes, to have their eyes examined.  This gives the physician a unique window into the disease process,” said TPMG Ophthalmologist Anthony DeRosa, MD.

Optometrists

Alternatively, an optometrist is not a medical doctor and is not trained in systemic diseases. An optometrist receives a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and provides vision care ranging from vision testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. Optometrists in the United States are licensed to prescribe medications to treat certain eye problems and diseases, and the scope of care is determined by state law. Read more