Ovulation pain is a type of lower abdominal or pelvic pain that some people experience around the middle of their menstrual cycle. It is commonly called mittelschmerz, a German term meaning “middle pain.” For some people, ovulation feels like a mild cramp or pressure. For others, it may feel like a sudden sharp pain on … Read more
Anal pain can be uncomfortable, distracting, and sometimes difficult to talk about. However, it is a common symptom and can happen for many different reasons. Something as simple as constipation or irritation can cause soreness, while conditions such as an anal fissure, hemorrhoids, infection, or an abscess may require medical treatment. The location and character … Read more
Ankle pain is a common problem that can affect people of all ages. It may appear after a simple misstep, sports injury, long walk, or sudden increase in exercise. Sometimes, however, ankle pain develops gradually because of tendon problems, arthritis, nerve irritation, or another underlying condition. The pain may be felt around the outside or … Read more
Elbow pain can make surprisingly simple activities—lifting a cup, opening a door, typing, exercising, or carrying a bag—uncomfortable. Sometimes it appears after an obvious injury, while other times it develops gradually from repetitive movements. The good news is that most elbow pain is not caused by a serious problem and often improves with appropriate activity … Read more
Scalp pain can be surprisingly uncomfortable. Sometimes the scalp feels tender when you brush your hair, wash it, or touch it. In other cases, the pain may feel like burning, tingling, throbbing, pressure, or a sharp sensation that spreads across part of the head. Scalp pain is not a condition by itself. It is a … Read more
Groin pain can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes difficult to understand. It may appear suddenly after exercise, lifting something heavy, or making an awkward movement. In other cases, it develops gradually and may be related to a joint, nerve, hernia, urinary problem, or another underlying condition. The groin is the area where the lower abdomen … Read more
Shoulder pain is a common problem that can make everyday activities such as reaching overhead, getting dressed, sleeping, lifting objects, or brushing your hair surprisingly difficult. It may develop gradually from overuse or poor movement patterns, or it may appear suddenly after an injury. Although many cases of shoulder pain improve with activity modification, gentle … Read more
Rib pain can be uncomfortable, distracting, and sometimes alarming, especially when it gets worse with breathing, coughing, or movement. While rib pain is often caused by a muscle strain, minor injury, inflammation, or a bruised rib, it can sometimes be related to problems involving the lungs, heart, digestive system, or other structures around the chest. … Read more
Finger joint pain can make simple activities such as typing, writing, opening a jar, gripping a phone, or buttoning clothes surprisingly difficult. The pain may occur in one finger or several fingers and can range from a mild ache to significant swelling, stiffness, or difficulty moving the hand. There are many possible causes of finger … Read more
Abdominal pain is one of the most common health complaints. It can feel like a dull ache, sharp pain, burning, cramping, pressure, or discomfort anywhere between the chest and groin. Sometimes abdominal pain is caused by something relatively minor, such as gas, constipation, indigestion, or a stomach infection. In other situations, it can be a … Read more