It as a "Sebaceous Cyst". Basically, it's a pimple gone bad. He said this is a common place for them, since the area can get sweaty and oily and doesn't get much exposure to air.

Caused by blocked sebaceous glands, swollen hair follicles, and or excessive testosterone production, a sebaceous cyst is a closed sac below the surface of the skin that has a lining that resembles the uppermost part (infundibulum) of a hair follicle and fills with a fatty white, semi-solid material called sebum.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is called Achilles tendinitis (also spelled tendonitis).

• -itis is the medical term for inflammation.

Or, you may be looking for "plantar fasciitis", which can be caused by stress from a tight Achilles tendon. This is often most noticed in the morning upon first walking. The fascia that runs along the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed and painful, especially at the heel (often due to simple "fallen arches" of the feet).

• Plantar is the medical word for bottom of the foot.

• fasci- refers to fascia (a type of connective tissue).

• -itis means inflammation

F-A-S-C-I-I-T-I-S is correctly spelled with a total of 3 "I's".

Pronounced: fash-ee-I-tis with the accent on the 3rd syllable.

• "fash" as in the word fashion,
• "ee" as in coffee,
• "I" as in eye,
• "tis" as in arthritis.

Normally, the pain from overuse is accompanied only by soreness and stiffness, and it is called "Achilles tendinosis."

Tendinopathy is a term that encompasses both tendinosis and tendinitis.

Occasionally, and especially in sports involving sprinting and jumping, there can be actual damage to the tendon, called an "Achilles tendon rupture," and requiring immobilization or even surgery.

Painful menstrual periods are periods in which a woman experiences crampy lower abdominal pain, sharp pain that comes and goes, aching pain, or possibly back pain.

Menstruation - painful; Dysmenorrhea; Periods - painful; Cramps - menstrual; Menstrual cramps

Painful menstruation affects many women. For a small number of women, the discomfort makes it difficult to perform normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.

The pain may begin several days before, or just at the start of your period. It generally lessens as menstrual bleeding tapers off.

Although some pain during menstruation is normal, excessive pain is not. The medical term for excessively painful periods is dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs around the time that menstrual periods first begin in otherwise healthy young women. This type of pain is usually not related to any specific problems with the uterus or other pelvic organs. Increased activity of the hormone prostaglandin, which is produced in the uterus, is thought to be a factor in primary dysmenorrhea.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that develops later, after periods have been more normal, and is often related to problems in the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Intrauterine device (IUD) made of copper
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Stress and anxiety

The following steps may allow you to avoid prescription medications:

• Apply a heating pad to your lower abdomen (below your belly button). Be careful NOT to fall asleep with the heating pad on.
• Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower abdomen.
• Drink warm beverages.
• Eat light but frequent meals.
• Follow a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but low in salt, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Keep your legs elevated while lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.
• Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. Start taking it the day before your period is expected to start, and continue taking it regularly for the first few days of your period.
• Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS.
• Take warm showers or baths.
• Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.

If these self-care measures do not work, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Birth control pills
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines such as meclofenamate (Meclomen)
• Prescription pain relievers (including narcotics such as codeine, for brief periods)

Call your doctor right away if:

• Vaginal discharge is increased in amount or is foul-smelling.
• You have a fever.
• Your pain is significant, your period is more than one week late, and you have been sexually active.

Also call your doctor if:

• Self-care measures don't relieve your pain after 3 months.
• You have an IUD that was placed more than 3 months ago.
• You pass blood clots or have other symptoms with the pain.
• Your pain is severe or sudden.
• Your pain occurs at times other than menstruation, begins more than 5 days before your period, or continues after your period is over.

Your doctor will examine you, paying close attention to your pelvis and abdomen, and ask questions about your medical history and current symptoms, such as:

• How old were you when your periods started?
• Have they always been painful? If not, when did the pain begin?
• When in your menstrual cycle do you experience the pain?
• Is the pain sharp, dull, intermittent, constant, aching, or cramping?
• Are you sexually active?
• Do you use birth control? What type?
• When was your last menstrual period?
• Was the flow of your last menstrual period a normal amount for you?
• Do your periods tend to be heavy or prolonged (lasting longer than 5 days)?
• Have you passed blood clots?
• Are your periods generally regular and predictable?
• Do you use tampons with menstruation?
• What have you done to try to relieve the discomfort? How effective was it?
• Does anything make the pain worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Blood tests including CBC
• Cultures (may be taken to rule out sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, primary syphilis, or chlamydiainfections)
• Laparoscopy
• Ultrasound

Your health care provider may prescribe birth control pills to relieve menstrual pain. If you don't need them for birth control, you can stop using the pills after 6 to 12 months. Many women continue to have symptom relief even after stopping the medication.

Surgery may be necessary for women who are unable to get enough pain relief or pain control. Procedures may range from removal of cysts, polyps, adhesions, endometriosis, or fibroids to a complete hysterectomy.

Prescription medications may be used for endometriosis.

For pain caused by an IUD, your doctor may recommend:

• Waiting until the end of the first year of use. Painful periods go away in many women during this time.
• Have the IUD removed and use alternative birth control methods.
• Change to an IUD that contains progesterone, which usually makes the periods lighter and less painful.

French L. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71(2):285-291.

Harel Z. Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: etiology and management. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2006;19:363-371.

Lentz GM. Primary and secondary dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Etiology, diagnosis, management. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2007:chap 36.

The positive form is the original adjective. The comparative form shows a greater degree of quality. The superlative form shows the highest degree of quality.

"Most painful" is the superlative. The positive is "painful", the root adjective. The comparative is "most painful".

Swallowing pain refers to pain while swallowing, which may be felt high in the neck or lower down behind the breastbone. It is most often a strong feeling of uncomfortable squeezing and burning, and may be a symptom of a serious disorder.

See also: Swallowing difficulty

Swallowing - pain or burning; Odynophagia; Burning feeling when swallowing

Swallowing is a complex act that involves the mouth, throat area, and esophagus (the muscular tube that moves food to the stomach). Many nerves and muscles control how these body parts work. Part of the act of swallowing is under voluntary control, which means you are aware of controlling the action. However, much of swallowing is involuntary.

Problems at any point -- from chewing food and moving it into the back of the mouth to moving the food into the stomach -- can result in difficulty swallowing.

Chest pain, the feeling of food stuck in the throat, or heaviness or pressure in the neck or upper chest while eating are often the result of swallowing difficulties.

• Infection
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Gum disease (gingivitis)
  • Herpes simplexvirus
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Pharyngitis(sore throat usually due to infection)
  • Thrush (a fungal infection caused by Candida)
  • Tooth infection or abscess
• Mouth or throat ulcers
• Inflammation of the esophagus
• Something stuck in the throat (for example, fish or chicken bones)
• Problems with the esophagus (listed below) may cause difficulty swallowing:
  • Achalasia
  • Esophageal spasms
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Nutcracker esophagus

Eat slowly and chew food thoroughly. If a person suddenly shows signs of choking and difficulty breathing, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed immediately.

You may have an easier time swallowing liquids or pureed foods than solids. Avoid very cold or very hot foods if you notice that they worsen the problem.

Call your health care provider if you have:

• Blood in your stools or your stools appear black or tarry
• Shortness of breath or lightheadedness
• Weight loss

Call if the problem continues, even if the symptoms come and go.

Tell your doctor about any other symptoms that occur with the painful swallowing, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Chills
• Cough
• Fever
• Heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Weight loss
• Wheezing

The doctor will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

• Do you have pain when swallowing solids, liquids, or both?
• Is the pain constant or does it come and go?
• Is the pain getting worse?
• Do you have difficulty swallowing?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Does it feel like there is a lump in the throat?
• Have you inhaled or swallowed any irritating substances?
• What other symptoms do you have?
• What other medical problems do you have?
• What medications do you take?

The following tests may be done:

• Barium swallowand upper GI series
• Chest x-ray
• Esophageal pH monitoring (measures acid in the esophagus)
• Esophageal manometry (measures pressure in the esophagus)
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)
• HIV testing
• Neck x-ray
• Throat culture

Orlando RC. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 140.