Piriformis syndrome is a common cause of low back pain that mimics the pain caused by sciatica or a herniated disc.  The piriformis is a muscle that is located in the area of the buttocks.  Its function is to rotate the leg outward at the hip.  With trauma or overuse, the muscle can become […]

Coccydynia is pain in and around the tailbone area.  It most often occurs after trauma to the area.  Females are affected more than males.  Other causes of coccydynia include arthritis, fracture or injuries sustained during vaginal delivery, bicycling or horse-back riding.  There is usually tenderness over the area which may radiate into the rectum.  Sitting […]

  Intercostal neuralgia is a painful problem that involves the nerves that run underneath the ribs.  The pain can be on the side of the chest or upper abdomen.  It usually radiates around from the back towards the front and may mimic the pain of a heart attack or gall bladder disease.  The pain is […]

Atypical facial pain is a name given to a group of painful facial problems that are difficult to classify.  The pain usually occurs only on one side of the face and is described as constant and aching.  It usually has a female preponderance.  Headache is common in this problem.  Stress and depression may be co-morbid […]

Temporal arteritis is a headache located mainly in the area of the temples.  The headache usually occurs around age fifty or sixty and has a female preponderance.  A large proportion of these patients also suffer from polymyalgia rheumatica.  The headache is usually described as continuous, aching and of moderate severity.  The patient may also complain […]