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.