Knee Pain: When to See an Orthopedic Surgeon

Knee pain can be a big problem, and can cause discomfort enough to keep you up at night or distract you from whatever it is that you are doing. This type of pain needs to be addressed as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse. Otherwise, you might miss out on a lot of activities just because your knee is too weak or painful to function.

Help From An Orthopedic Surgeon

Playing sports is often fun until there is an injury. Some injuries can be walked off with a little pain medication and rest while others might require seeing an orthopedic surgeon.

What Does An Orthopedic Surgeon Do?

Orthopedic Surgeons do a lot for people who are hurting, whether it is a sport’s injury, an older person who needs their knee replaced, or a problem with tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, or even various bone problems and skin. It is a specialty that covers the musculoskeletal system of the body, and provides help with injuries, deformities and degenerative diseases of hands, feet, spine, knees, shoulders, and elbows. They also deal with infections, tumors, trauma, and metabolic problems. Their main purpose is to bring back function that has been lost because of an injury or from a disease that has damaged these areas. They also work with other doctors and do consultations which involve a lot of emergency room work usually in multiple injury cases. They work with people in all age brackets.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU CHOOSE TO GO INTO SURGERY

No one likes the idea of surgery. Sometimes it's a necessary evil, especially if you are an athlete. Before you agree to go under the knife, there are a few things you need to know. These suggestions will help you keep a level head and also prepare you for what lies ahead, should surgery be the only option. This way you can be a success story, just like many athletes who have the same experiences.

Overuse Injuries Commonly Occur in Dancers

One of the most popular recreational activities in Colorado Springs for young girls and adolescents is dance. Many parents enroll their children in dance classes to help keep their children fit and allow them to develop new skills. Unfortunately, almost 90 percent of dancers experience an injury during the lifetime. While acute injuries from accidents occasionally occur, the most common injuries that orthopedic surgeons must treat in dancers are from overuse.

Most Common Orthopedic Surgeries

Orthopedic surgeons treat various medical conditions that affect different bones and muscle tissues. Here are the most common orthopedic treatments in the United States.

Total Joint Replacement

This procedure helps athletes who have arthritis and is considered effective because it reduces pain and enhances range of motion. During the surgery, the technician examines the injured joint thoroughly. The surgeon may then replace the joint with a plastic or metal material.

Sports Medicine: Know When You’re More Prone to Having Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are inevitable among professional and recreational athletes, and those injuries could be uncomfortable or very painful. No one plans to end up injured after playing or running for hours, but no matter how hard you warm up your body before a training, workout, or competition, injuries can happen. What many athletes probably don’t know, however, is that there are certain situations or times wherein they are more prone to getting injured, according to new study from the Wiley online library.
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An Expert Orthopedic Surgeon Can Restore Your Joints with Surgery

Your joints are an important part of your mobility, but they don’t always stay in perfect condition. Various ailments like arthritis or even the normal wear-and-tear of everyday life can result in your joints not working as well as they should. People whose joints have become difficult to use even after normal treatment can turn to a local orthopedic surgeon at clinics like the Colorado Center for Orthopaedic Excellence to receive joint replacement surgery. Depending on the location of the joint to be replaced, you’ll need to know more about the procedure. Knee As one of the more common types of joint replacement, knee replacement surgery is often done because of the amount of strain placed on the knee; it supports your body as you walk and is integral in your mobility.
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Sports Medicine Basics: Nutrition Tips For Faster ACL Surgery Recovery

A look at the human knee joint reveals a fascinating design: the shinbone and the thigh bone are connected to each other by virtue of a knee bone ‘bridge’, all of which are held together by a network of ligaments. Among these is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which runs diagonally across the middle of the knee. Its job is to provide rotational stability in the joint, while also preventing the shinbone from slipping out in front of the thighbone. The ACL is tough, but elite athletes who often push their knee joints to the limit are highly susceptible to tearing it. Once the ACL is torn, reconstructive surgery will be recommended. While the surgery itself, however, is already intensive, the recovery period will be tedious. Sports medicine wisdom holds that in order to facilitate quicker recovery, a patient must make sound nutritional choices along the way.
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How to Splint a Fracture Well Before Rushing to an Orthopedic Surgeon

When it comes to splinting a fracture, longtime paramedic Jennifer Cuske has seen it all—from a textbook splinting technique to a bad one. In her article on the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, she recalls one instance wherein she had to help out a patient whose broken ankle was improperly splinted. As the patient and her EMTs passed by, Cuske noticed that the patient’s obviously broken ankle was dangling, unsupported by the wheelchair pedal. Furthermore, it was haphazardly stabilized with a padded cardboard splint, which didn’t even fit the bend of the patient’s ankle well. In response, she asked one of the EMTs to place the patient’s foot on the wheelchair, and immediately saw the latter’s pained expression change to relief.
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Sports Medicine Demands are Unique and can be Extreme in its Nature

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) based in Colorado, just stated that sports medicine receives new demands due to an increasing skier population age. The Republic published the organization’s collected data, showing that the average age of snowboarders and skiers went up from 33.2 to 36.5 within a span of 10 years. Moreover, visitors of age between 45 and 54 increased in proportion, which is 19.9 percent from 14, while those of age between 55 and 64 now make up 9.2 percent from a previous 4.6. This shift in demographics means there is a growing overlap with the heart attack demographic.
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When It's Time to See an Orthopedic Surgeon

Experiencing some pain after weekend sports or after overdoing it at the gym isn't automatically a reason to see an orthopedic surgeon in Colorado Springs. When pain becomes progressively worse or doesn't go away after a little rest, however, it helps to know when it makes sense to consult an orthopedic surgeon.

4 Most Common Orthopedic Surgeries

Orthopedic surgery encompasses diagnosis and treatment of issues involving the body’s musculoskeletal system. Serious conditions can warrant the use of conventional surgical techniques. Minor injuries and repairs are often corrected by utilizing the latest in minimally-invasive technology to limit scarring and reduce recovery time. While orthopedic surgeons perform a variety of procedures, these four tend to be the most common.

Role of a Professional Orthopedic Surgeon in Today’s Sports Scene

In sports, people are pushing their bodies to extremes and so, injuries can be expected. However, an injury does not automatically mean the end of a sports career. In an article from the Herald Times, for example, it was reported that a player named Peyton Burke who just came back from an ankle injury was able to run her career best in the Northwest League meet. Her 17.8 100-meter hurdles run earned her third place, cementing a spot in the state meet, giving testament to her successful recovery. Risk of Injury in Sports Sports today have gone a long way from the competitions done in ancient times. Even combat sports, like boxing and the like, are nowhere near as deadly as the gladiatorial battles in Rome— safety measures and standards are put in place to prevent devastating injuries for players.
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Seeking a Cure for Joint or Muscle Pain

Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery can trace their roots back to the 1700s when doctors treated muscle and bone deformities. Over time, the medical science expanded to include the entire musculoskeletal system using treatments that were both surgical and nonsurgical in nature.

Overview
Athletes in training frequently suffer sprains and muscle pulls during training or in competition. They need a facility with competent staff available to care for athletes in need of medical care. An example of such a facility are training and health centers that provide a range of orthopedic services. They have a team of specialists who are ready to handle a variety of sports injuries, including sprains, muscle tears and fractures of the arms, hands, ankles, shoulder, knee and lower leg.

Take Action
If you have been hurt or have chronic muscle pain, specialists are ready to diagnose your problem and develop a treatment plan to resolve it. They are fully equipped to handle conditions ranging from a sprain to a compound fracture.

The body is a complex set of muscles and tissues stretched over the skeleton. If you suffer an injury, seek out a specialist who can help you get back into the swing of things. You need not sit out that dance or game for the nth time. Get moving. Have an orthopedic professional help you enjoy all the pleasures of pain-free and easy movement once again.

Get Immediate Treatment After a Hand Injury

When an athlete sustains a hand injury, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to chronic pain in the short term and arthritis in the long term. Bones that are allowed to heal on their own may be at a higher risk of being broken again when catching a pass or throwing a pitch. 

Orthopedic Surgeon: When Exercise Goes All Wrong

Physical exercises keep the human body healthy, but these have to be executed with knowledge and care, integrating warm-ups after every intense movements. Improper twisting, lifting, pushing, or landing, whether in sports or exercise can cause musculoskeletal injuries. Common types of sports injuries are bone fractures, muscle sprains, ligament tears, and dislocated joints. 

Preparing For your Orthopedic Appointment

Going to your orthopedic appointment is no less different than preparing to go see your family doctor for an appointment or treatment. You still have to prepare yourself. Be punctual; you are strongly advised to arrive 15-30 minutes early than your scheduled appointment to allow time to complete your health questionnaire, with all the necessary details on your medical condition and history. Being late not only aggravates your doctor, but the other patients, as well. 

Why Seek an Orthopedic Surgeon in Colorado Springs

Doing physical activities without proper warm-up conditioning puts your body at risk of sports injuries. In the field of medicine, a sports injury is any damage related to the musculoskeletal system or in areas of the joint, soft tissues and bones, during or following sports activities.

Sports Medicine: When Home Management Is Not Enough for Ankle Injuries

Medications are usually prescribed to manage pain. Minor fractures can be casted or immobilized with a removable brace or boot. If you had more extensive injuries, you will require surgery to fuse the disconnected parts of the ankle, repair or reconstruct the damaged ligaments in the area, and stitch up large wounds. In more serious cases, surgeons will replace the part with an artificial ankle altogether. Aside from providing these delicate procedures, a Colorado Springs sports medicine clinic like the Colorado Center for Orthopaedic Excellence can also render physical therapy to help the patient with a more comprehensive healing of the bones and aid in faster recovery. Your doctors and therapists should also be able to advise you on the proper home care of your injury, while encouraging you to modify your activities or lifestyle during your recovery.
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Orthopedic Surgeon Takes on ACL Injuries, Recurrence, and Treatment

Big and small alike, ACL tears almost automatically need reconstruction surgery and extensive rehabilitation as will be prescribed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon. The time it takes to bounce back after surgery, which is commonly around 6 months to 12 months, depends on how severe the injury or how extensive and successful the reconstruction was. According to a study presented at the 2013 conference conducted by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the likelihood of a re-occurrence of an ACL injury within two years of the last one is six times compared to one who has never had the condition. This high incidence rate should urge you to work closely with your surgeon and follow through your recovery protocols to the tiniest details to prevent vulnerability of an old injury, such as damage to your knee.
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When Is A Knee Replacement Necessary?

Knee osteoarthritis can affect an individual’s every move: walking, climbing stairs, and even mundane activities like sitting or lying down. When knee osteoarthritis becomes debilitating, surgery is typically recommended.

Considerations About Your Orthopedic Surgeon

The decision to have a knee surgery is a major step toward reclaiming a comfortable lifestyle. It is also vital that you feel comfortable with your choice of orthopedic surgeon who will perform the procedure on you. Here are important considerations. Your surgeon:

• Must be familiar with and adept in the surgery you’re getting. The surgeon must have performed the procedure many times in the past to have expertise and experience in the field. It is necessary to trust your health with someone who has handled similar cases.

Beating the Pain: Tips on Treating an Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries. While some athletes are able to keep playing, there are others who instantly hobble in pain. Here are a few tips for treating a sprained ankle.

Control the Swelling

The amount of swelling can vary according to the severity of the sprain. In the hours following the injury, it is important to apply ice to your ankle. To prevent discomfort or tissue damage, only keep the ice pack on the skin for no more than 20 minutes at a time. When resting, always keep your ankle elevated (above the level of your heart) to limit swelling.

Dealing With a Herniated Disc

Your spine is composed of a set of vertebrae separated by discs, which serve as shock absorbers for your back. Once these cushions weaken or tear and compress the spinal nerve due to an injury or a degenerative disease, you could suffer pain in your spinal nerve, a condition known as disc herniation. There are two types of disc herniation, namely lumbar disc herniation and cervical disc herniation, with the former being the most common source of back pain among people.

Do You Know about Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Upon hearing it for the first time, you might not be familiar with Dupuytren’s contracture, or where in the body it may develop. This condition happens when knots of tissue begin to form under the skin of your palm, which then turn into a thick cord that pulls one or more of your fingers into a bent position.

To give you a clear picture as to what Dupuytren’s contracture can do to your hands, imagine never being able to shake hands properly or place them in your pockets because one of your fingers cannot be straightened permanently.

Sports Medicine Physicians Provide Treatment for CrossFit Injuries

Any high-level competitor out to maximize the benefits of intense workout training like CrossFit, should be prepared to suffer injuries and seek medical assistance and treatment from a Colorado Springs sports medicine doctor. Keep in mind that for optimal results, treatment is performed in a collaborative setting where the physician, orthopedic surgeon, and the physical thjavascript:%20void(0)erapist, among others, team up to treat the injuries. A board-certified sports medicine physician usually performs non-surgical treatment, such as fractures, while an orthopedic surgeon is called into the team when a surgical procedure is highly recommended.
https://ccoeus.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/sports-medicine-physicians-provide-treatment-for-crossfit-injuries/

How A Trusted Orthopedic Surgeon Can Help Athletes with ACL Injuries

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four most important ligaments in the knee area. It is extremely vital for movement because it acts as the stablizer of the knee joint, reducing the stress caused by the applied pressure by limiting the knee’s excessively forward and rotational movements. An anterior cruciate ligament is important in a knee’s anatomy and function, and injuring it will need treatment from a board-certified Colorado Springs orthopedic surgeon. An article from LiveStrong.com states: “ACL injuries are one of the most common knee injuries among athletes. According to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, about 150,000 ACL injuries occur in the United States every year. The same source reports that ACL injuries account for more than a $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year.”
https://ccoeus.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/how-a-trusted-orthopedic-surgeon-can-help-athletes-with-acl-injuries/

The Torn ACL: Every Athlete’s Nightmare

You’ve seen basketball star Derrick Rose, golf legend Tiger Woods, and countless others miss entire seasons just because of the same injury: a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An ACL tear is a common knee injury that affects one of the four ligaments that stabilizes the knee, and is aptly considered a nightmare for athletes all over.

Characterized by hearing a discrete “popping” sound in the knee following a sudden deceleration or landing maneuver, a torn ACL is also known for the searing pain it causes. ACL tears are frequent in contact sports (i.e. boxing) or sports that require rapid changes in direction (i.e. basketball). Most of the time, the ACL is prone to tearing due to a twisting movement while supporting weight—landing from a jump, for example.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the ulnar nerve near the elbow because of increased pressure. One may develop this condition if they:

• Repeatedly lean on their elbow, especially on a hard surface
• Frequent bending of the elbow
• Abnormal bone growth in the elbow due to intense physical activity

Symptoms include pain and numbness in the elbow, or on the inside of the hand and in the ring and little fingers. More severe symptoms include decreased ability to pinch the little finger and the thumb, decreased overall hand grip, and muscle wasting in the hand.

Skateboard With Care

Skateboard groups are an American staple. Young teens in kneepads and helmets (sometimes, none at all) take a risk by doing amazing stunts with their boards, from midair flips to grinding. Constant practice created legends like Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, and Ryan Sheckler; but they're not exempted from the risks that come with the sport.

Of the thousands of skateboard injuries recorded every year, more than half of them happen to children under 15, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The injuries can range from cuts and bruises to torn ligaments and twisted ankles. Tony Hawk's injuries over the course of his career, in fact, has already forced him to consider retirement.

Joint Replacement: The Procedure and its Benefits

A stiff and painful knee can make it difficult for a person to perform daily chores and activities. It can even be worse if over-the-counter medicines are no longer working. In such a case, the best long-term solution would be joint replacement surgery.

A joint replacement surgery does two things: it removes the pain and improves the function of the joint. The pain in the joint is normally caused by the friction created by the surface of the joint and the adjacent bone structure. Originally, the joint is covered with cartilage, a tissue more elastic than bone that serves as shock absorber. When the cartilage gets damaged, that’s the time actual bone surfaces start making contact, causing severe pain.