Orthopedic Treatments Bolster Fitness Goals

It is not uncommon for someone starting a vigorous new workout to experience pain in parts of the body that never gave them troubles in the past. Most commonly, the shoulder seems to produce the great number of complaints.

The shoulders are involved in almost any type of exercise. Weightlifting, CrossFit, Spartan training, and other gym styles actively involve the shoulder complex. Even outdoor activities like hiking puts stress on the shoulder. Carrying a heavy pack, or upright walking for long distances requires the shoulders to support posture and total body stability.

Orthopedic Surgeon: Arthroscopy Explained

With medical advancement today, the term arthroscopy is now common in the field of orthopedics. It is a surgical procedure that allows surgeons to see possible joint problems, helping them diagnose and treat the condition. Using a kind of endoscope called arthroscope, this procedure is done by making a small incision and then inserting the instrument to see what’s within the joint. It is often performed to analyze a patient’s condition or treat orthopedic problems such as damaged cartilage and ACL condition.

Let Colorado Orthopedics help you Spring back into Colorado Springs!

Colorado is a truly amazing place with a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities alike. There are always places to go and things to see such as bustling downtown nightlife or quiet nature walks in the park. Unfortunately, orthopedic problems or conditions can rapidly sideline folks from enjoying these items to the fullest.

Three Types of Orthopedic Surgery

Although most procedures being done by orthopedic surgeons involve invasive procedure, there are some instances that they can also conduct non-invasive ones. Regardless of the procedure, however, most orthopedic surgeons do three common procedures.

Seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon After a Sports Injury

If you have sprained your ankle while playing basketball or shattered your wrist while playing baseball, you may want to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. While these professionals don't specialize in sports medicine per se, they do work with many parts of the body that are affected by sports injuries.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.