Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative condition caused by a loss of cartilage, which is a type of slippery, protective tissue that cushions the ends of the bones and enables the joints to move smoothly. It is extremely common and can affect different joints in the body, including the knees, hips, spine and hands. According to…
To mark Men’s Health Week (14-20 June), we’re looking at some of the most common musculoskeletal conditions that we diagnose and treat in men here at W27, including symptoms to look out for and what you can do to reduce your risk.
The last 18 months have been like no other. The enforced inactivity of lockdown has resulted in many different challenges for us physically, mentally and socially. In this blog we will consider, as we slowly return to normality, how you can get back to sporting activity safely and avoid becoming injured as you build up…
If you are waiting for surgery, the delays caused by the pandemic may well have caused a worsening or your symptoms or deterioration of your condition. Unfortunately, there is now such a backlog of patients waiting for surgery that you may face further delays even though things are slowly starting to get back to normal.
Lockdown pressed the pause button on all of our lives and if you have been waiting for medical treatment this is likely to have been a major challenge. People with musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, gout or osteomyelitis may have seen a worsening of their symptoms. If you were unfortunate enough to sustain a sprain,…
To mark Stress Awareness Month, we’re looking at a common condition – frozen shoulder – and asking whether it can be caused by stress.
As more and more of the UK population receive their Covid-19 vaccinations and routine healthcare treatments resume, many people are wondering whether it is advisable to delay certain procedures or delay having the vaccine to ensure the best possible outcomes for their health. The British Orthopaedic Association has put together some helpful guidance for patients…
Injections of corticosteroids into damaged tissues or painful joints can provide effective relief from pain and inflammation. Ultrasound helps to improve efficacy of these injections by ensuring that the steroids are delivered to exactly the right place. At W27 we offer ultrasound guided injections for a range of different and painful conditions. Here we focus…
In the UK, our cultural conditioning can sometimes make us unwilling to seek a second opinion, particularly in relation to medical treatment. Naturally, we want to trust medical professionals but our reluctance to seek the opinion of another can sometimes go beyond this natural instinct.
Steroid injections are used to ease pain and reduce swelling in painful joints affected by osteoarthritis as well as treating soft tissue inflammation such as tendonitis. The steroid is normally combined with local anaesthetic to achieve the best results. In the past, the doctor relied on their own skill and judgment to position the injection…
Ultrasound guided injections are being used increasingly in sports medicine to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments. There are a number of benefits of using ultrasound in this way. It is an imaging technique that uses sound waves rather than radiation to create dynamic…
The start of a new year is often a time for us to think about making changes in our life and improving health is number one on many people’s priority list. If you are suffering from recent or long-term sporting injuries, why not make this the year you take action to investigate your symptoms and…
Like healthcare professionals around the world, W27 saw a sharp decline in the number of patients we were able to see this year and performed far fewer diagnostic and musculoskeletal imaging procedures. Covid-19 caused a steep drop in demand as the country went into lockdown, followed by different regional tiers. However, did this mean we…
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that affects the hand and fingers. In this blog we explore what it is, what causes it and how ultrasound guided injections can help.
Does living in a remote location mean you are likely to have worse health outcomes?
One of the impacts of the pandemic is that many routine surgical procedures have had to be postponed. If you are waiting for knee replacement surgery, surgical repair for tendinopathy or other types of surgery for musculoskeletal problems, you may have found yourself with a far longer wait than normal. It can be frustrating to…
A frozen shoulder – referred to as adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder – is when the shoulder becomes stiff and painful without any obvious cause. It normally affects only one shoulder, which can become so stiff and restricted that its movements are effectively ‘frozen’. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not known. Experts believe…
Patients sometimes seek a second opinion after receiving a diagnosis for a musculoskeletal condition. There can be a number of different reasons for this but peace of mind is one of the primary ones. Before you embark on a programme of treatment – which might include surgery that can carry risk or may have a…
Home has become the new gym for many of us as we adapt to the new social distancing rules set out by the UK government in response to Covid-19. Ways to exercise at home In a previous blog, we discussed different ways that all of us can continue to exercise with the new restrictions in…
In these extraordinarily challenging times, all of us are having to find creative ways to keep ourselves healthy and well. Our bodies are not naturally designed to stay indoors for day after day, so our musculoskeletal health could be at risk if we don’t take steps to protect it. First and foremost, for all of…
While our thoughts may be turning towards springtime, and the promise of lighter nights and warmer weather, it’s easy to forget that we are still in the depths of winter. At this time of year, the weather can quickly turn icy, snowy or stormy and these bouts of winter weather are often accompanied by an…
The pain in my shoulder had been increasing for months before I finally saw my GP. I kept thinking it would go away by itself, but my shoulder got stiffer and stiffer and more and more painful. Eventually I found myself unable to brush my hair or scratch my own back. My shoulder felt weak…
So, how are you doing with your New Year commitment to yourself to get fit and exercise more?
Have you been living with aches and pains over the past 12 months? Maybe you’ve put off seeking medical help in the hope that the problem would simply go away? Maybe you’re worried about taking time off work, or the financial impact that treatment might have? Or maybe the fear of undergoing treatment is enough…
Passport? Check. Warm, lightweight clothing? Check. Ski goggles? Check. But, is there something else you should be including in your winter holiday planning?
If you are having radiology tests and treatments, you might be wondering how you will feel afterwards and whether you will be able to resume your everyday activities straight away.
If you have pain in your shoulder caused by a shoulder impingement, your consultant may recommend having an ultrasound guided injection to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Here we explore what an ultrasound guided injection is, what conditions it’s used for and what to expect when you go for your appointment.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections belong to an emerging field of treatment called orthobiologics, which use new technologies to support the body’s natural healing processes.
Injections are often used to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the shoulder, hip, knee and wrist, including arthritis, torn ligaments and muscles, labral tears and tendonitis.
An MRI arthrogram uses a specialist type of X-ray and MRI scanning to investigate the causes of joint pain. It can be used to diagnose conditions affecting the shoulder, hip, knee, wrist or elbow.
Advances in our understanding of disease, new approaches to treatment, technological breakthroughs, scientific studies and research from around the world… just some of the reasons why it is essential for medical consultants to engage in continuous professional development and remain at the forefront of research in their field.
A frozen shoulder – also called adhesive capsulitis – is a condition that causes the shoulder joint to become increasingly stiff and painful. The symptoms include loss of movement and worsening pain, which can be particularly bad at night.
Two heads are better than one, states the old adage and when it comes to the health of our patients the team at W27 Diagnostics and Imaging wholeheartedly agrees. We believe in working closely alongside other health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Ultrasound-guided injections of platelet rich plasma are an increasingly popular treatment for tendon and joint pain and injury. As a comparatively new treatment, not everyone has heard of platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections and fewer still understand how they work. Yet the science behind the treatment is relatively straightforward.
Unless you’re a fully paid-up member of the “all-weather runners club” you might be forgiven for confining your running schedule to the warmer months when the days are longer and the chance of rain is less (although always a possibility here in the UK!).
As we near finals weekend at Wimbledon, it’s not just the unbroken spell of sunny weather that has had spectators sweating. Whilst tennis fans will have their own views on who will be this year’s champions but with the skills of all players so high, it could go either way.
With uncharacteristically warm sunny weather for week one of Wimbledon, W27’s consultant radiologist, Dr Subhasis Basu, will be packing his sunhat as he takes up his position in the umpire’s chair once again.
Injections of anaesthetic and/or steroids into the joint can be an effective form of pain relief for people with chronic joint pain or musculoskeletal injuries. They can also be used to remove excess fluids, for example from cysts and ganglions.
Sunny days (sometimes!), short nights, sandals…. It can only mean one thing: it’s nearly time for Wimbledon! If you’re a tennis afficianado, the start of the lawn tennis season is probably a cause for excitement. You might even find yourself inspired to take up your racket and get out onto the court yourself.
It is important to get an accurate diagnosis if you are experiencing pain. Without this it is impossible for your doctor to treat the source of your pain effectively.
Warmer weather and longer days herald the start of the summer athletics season. Whether you’re a canoeist, cyclist, beach volleyball player or something else, if you’re limbering up to start competing, or if your children are getting ready to compete, it’s worth building some injury-prevention steps into your training schedule.
While the 40,000 or so runners who took part in this year’s London Marathon will be toasting their success, totting up their sponsorship money and enjoying a well-earned rest, some of them will, unfortunately, be nursing injuries.
As we enter the final countdown to this year’s London Marathon, thousands of runners are training hard and making their last minute preparations to compete in the world’s largest single annual fundraising event.
Radiology testing is any kind of imaging technique that is used to diagnose or treat disease. Different types of imaging techniques are used depending on the suspected problem. If you are having a radiology test, here’s what to expect and how to prepare for the procedure:
It’s no secret that working in construction can be hard on your body. You may be handling heavy materials, lifting, stretching, digging… sometimes in sub zero temperatures, sometimes in pouring rain or blistering heat. You may be working high above the ground and be at risk of falling, or on uneven ground and be at…
A frozen shoulder can be extremely painful. It is caused by inflammation of the joint lining and/or restricted movement due to the formation of scar tissue. Read our mini-guide to shoulder Hydrodilatations, a treatment that can help ease the pain of a frozen shoulder.
Whether it was a New Year promise to yourself or you are a regular exerciser, gyms are full with people in the early months of the new year, keen to work off the rest of the festive excesses and get in shape for the year ahead.
If you love skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports, it’s important to know how to avoid getting injured so your long-awaited holiday doesn’t come to a sudden and premature end.
Lower temperatures means a higher chance of injuries so it is more important than ever to warm up well during the winter months to avoid the risk of strains, sprains and tears. The reason for this is that your muscles don’t contract as efficiently when they are cold which means they have to work harder…
Radiology scans are commonly used to help diagnose and manage patients’ symptoms and conditions. They include a range of different imaging techniques e.g. X-rays, Ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI scans, which the radiographer helps to acquire the images of the insides of your body. These images are then processed and sent to the specialist radiologist to analyse and then…
When you are having a radiology test it can be reassuring to know that the radiologist carrying out the test has encountered the same or similar problems to yours or has particular expertise in this area.
Dr Subhasis Basu, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist, founded W27 Diagnostics as a resource centre so you can access the latest information about common musculoskeletal conditions that can be diagnosed and treated using radiology techniques.
