Doctors in Plain English

Frozen shoulder  often hurts more at night,  especially during the painful or “freezing” stage.  Lying on the painful shoulder, keeping the shoulder in one position for a long time,  and the high pain sensitivity of the irritated shoulder  can all contribute to disturbed sleep. If you have frozen shoulder, nighttime can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult. During the day, your shoulder may ache when you reach for something, put on a jacket, or reach behind your back. But then you go to bed. Suddenly, the shoulder seems much more noticeable. You may struggle to find a comfortable position. You may fall asleep and then wake up when you roll onto the painful side. Sometimes the shoulder aches even when you are lying still. Night pain and difficulty sleeping are common features of frozen shoulder, particularly during the painful early stage.  What Is Frozen Shoulder? Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes both shoulder pain and pr...

Yes, it can —but that does not necessarily mean walking is harmful. For many people with sciatica, gentle walking is a reasonable way to stay active. However, walking can sometimes temporarily increase leg pain, tingling, or numbness, especially when a nerve root is irritated. The important question is not simply: “Does walking hurt?” A more useful question is: “How do my symptoms respond during and after walking?” Mild discomfort that settles may be very different from pain that progressively travels farther down the leg, increasing numbness, or new weakness. In most cases, the goal is not complete rest. It is to find an amount of activity that you can tolerate and gradually build from there. What Is Sciatica? Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg because of irritation or compression of a nerve root. Sciatica describes pain that travels along the distribution of the sciatic nerve, usually because a nerve root in the lower spine is irritated or compr...

Yes,  in most cases. If you have a herniated disc in your lower back, you usually do not need to stop walking completely. In fact, staying reasonably active is generally preferred to prolonged bed rest. The important part is how you walk and how your symptoms respond . Walking should not become a test of how much pain you can tolerate. Start gently, pay attention to your symptoms, and adjust the duration and intensity as needed. Why Can a Herniated Disc Hurt When I Walk? A herniated disc can irritate or compress a nearby nerve root. The discs between the bones of your spine act as cushions. When part of a disc protrudes or herniates, it may irritate or compress a nearby nerve root. This can cause symptoms such as: Lower back pain Pain traveling into the buttock or leg Tingling or numbness Burning or electric-shock-like pain Weakness in the leg or foot Pain traveling down the leg due to irritation of a lumbar nerve root is commonly called sciatica . Not everyone with a ...