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2. Surprising Reasons You're in Pain Slideshow Pictures
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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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There is a school of thought that says that all injuries are preventable, but in the real world, accidents happen and injuries are the result. Some acute situations are potentially avoidable:

• When traveling long distances by car, train, or by air, get up and walk every couple of hours to decrease the risk of deep venous thrombosis.
• For those prone to falls, using a cane or walker may be helpful. As well, footwear with good grips should be encouraged. Falls can occur when the walking surface changes, for example, walking from a carpeted room to one with bare floors, or slipping on throw rugs. Home health safety assessments to minimize these kinds of fall risks may be available through your care provider or your county health department.
• Maintaining an ideal weight will decrease the lifetime stress on bones and joints and decrease the potential for arthritis and obesity-related illnesses.
• A regular exercise program and a healthy balanced diet, including adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, will maintain strong bones and joint flexibility.
• For those with long-term medical conditions, maintaining good control of the disease is a lifelong commitment and may minimize the risk of developing complications. This is especially true for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Smoking is a major risk factor for blood vessel disease and should be avoided.

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Blood Clot in the Legs Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg, DVT) is a blood clot imbedded in one of the major veins of the lower body, including the legs, thighs, or pelvis. C...learn more >>

Peripheral Vascular Disease The circulatory system consists of 2 types of blood vessels: arteries and veins. These are tubular structures that carry the blood throughout the body. ...learn more >>

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