Knee Replacements are a treatment for advanced arthritis of the knee, usually resulting from normal wear and tear or trauma. The cartilage surfaces of the knee are replaced. These new joint surfaces are made of metal alloy and plastic, and (of course) have no nerves, effectively ending the painful cycle. [Read more…] about 66 y/o Retired Salesman, Knee Replacement
39 y/o Active Male with Frozen Shoulder
He reports that his pain started gradually, about nine months ago, getting worse over time until he had to start limiting his exercise and began having pain with dressing, grooming, and sleeping. He saw an orthopedist and underwent MRI which showed that he had fraying of his labrum and supraspinatus tendonosis. He was treated for frozen shoulder with subacromial and intra-articular injections, with gave him significant pain relief, but did not improve his ability to move. [Read more…] about 39 y/o Active Male with Frozen Shoulder
50 year old Consultant with Sciatica
Sciatica that is along the top and/or inside of the thigh is relatively rare, and normally originates from the upper lumbar spine. Care has to be taken to rule out hip arthritis, which can cause pain along the same area. Basic management includes obtaining a baseline of strength and sensation for areas affected by the involved nerve roots. Generally, sciatica of a longer duration, with symptoms that are further from the back, or with more severe signs – weakness, reflex loss, or numbness – is tougher to treat and has a lower chance of resolving with therapy. [Read more…] about 50 year old Consultant with Sciatica
24 y/o Musician, Chronic Hip Pain
She began to have a familiar hip pain – from the groin to the outside – that had plagued her previously. She had already underwent hip arthroscopy in Dallas and another arthroscopy in Boston, where her labrum (piece of cartilage in the joint) was repaired. She was hurting bad enough that it was impeding on her daily activities and stopping her from working out. [Read more…] about 24 y/o Musician, Chronic Hip Pain
Don’t I Need an MRI?
Patients will hear me say over and over “MRI is really only for surgical planning. If you’re ready for surgery, then you need an MRI.” It doesn’t tell you “what’s wrong” or tell us if you need surgery or not. I ran into a research study today that demonstrates my point. [Read more…] about Don’t I Need an MRI?
61 year-old Mail Carrier with Knee Arthritis
She’s trying to finish out her career before resorting to knee replacement and we’re glad to help! Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem and is becoming more common over time due to our aging population overall. While knee replacement is a great alternative for most, the lengthy rehabilitation process, time off work, and other factors, make it the wrong option for some. [Read more…] about 61 year-old Mail Carrier with Knee Arthritis