Spine pain is effectively managed in Asheboro NC

As we all know, it is our spine that keeps us upright. However, there are occasions when we experience spine pain. It can be very painful and extremely debilitating. When experiencing spine pain, we should consult with orthopedic doctors in Asheboro NC to get treatment and relief.

Let us try to understand better our spine. Our spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae. These bones are stacked on top of the other. Nerves, disks separating the vertebrae, muscles and ligaments are additional parts of the spine. Muscles and ligaments support and stabilize our spine. Strong ligaments connect the vertebrae and keep the spinal column in correct position. The disks serve as shock absorbers during movement. All these parts work together harmoniously. When one part is injured or damaged, spine pain results.

To treat spine pain, doctors can recommend medication, surgery and physical medicine. These recommendations are dependent on the severity of the pain and injury.

Medications can help alleviate the pain and give the patient much needed relief. These medicines are designed to help reduce the pain and swelling.

Medications are combined with therapeutic treatments so patients can move and do enough work. Physical therapy combines cardiovascular exercises, weight lifting and stretching. Exercises designed to restore strength and motion to your lower back are also very helpful to relieve spine pain.

Surgery is last treatment option. It is generally recommended when all the other treatment options do not work. It is best to try non-surgical methods for a period of six months. After such time and the condition has not improved or even deteriorated, surgery may be next. Spinal surgeries include disc replacement and spinal fusion. Expert orthopedic surgeons at RandolphOrthopedics and Sports Medicine in Asheboro NC are qualified to manage spine pain and perform surgery when necessary.

Not all patients are candidates for spinal surgery. 

Joint Replacement Surgery in Asheboro NC

Do you need a joint replacement surgery?

If you feel joint pain that no longer subsides through oral medications and you experience joint pains almost everyday, you may need a joint replacement surgery.

What is joint replacement surgery?

A joint replacement surgery is performed on patients who experience extreme joint pains caused by arthritis or damage on the joint which no longer subsides through medications. In this procedure your Orthopedic surgeons in Asheboro NC replaces the affected joint with an artificial joint that will allow the patient to walk and move without experiencing the joint pain again.

What do I do before the Joint Replacement Surgery

Staying in shape is crucial before you undergo a joint replacement surgery. This means that if you are a smoker, you will have to stop smoking at least 2 weeks before the surgery itself. Once you stop smoking your blood flow will increase which in turn gives your body more oxygen supplies. You will also need to cut down on your fat and sugar in take 2 weeks before your surgery.

Talk to your Orthopedic Doctors

Your orthopedic doctors and all medical experts are capable of asking your questions before you undergo your Joint replacement surgery. Being aware of the procedure itself gives you that peace of mind. Be sure to ask all your questions relating to the joint replacement surgery. After the surgery rehabilitation and post operational care will be thoroughly discussed to you and to your family by your orthopedic doctors.

Several back pain treatment options available in Asheboro NC

There are a number of back pain treatments available for patients suffering from back pain. Orthopedic surgeons in Asheboro NC consider low back pain as the most common complaint they have to treat. Yet, it is interesting to note that back surgery is the least preferred! This sounds pretty good to many Americans suffering from back pain.

Musculoskeletal considerations

Orthopedic surgeons specializing in back pain and musculoskeletal disorders report that back pain can originate from bone systems, muscle systems or a combination of both. Muscle damage or strains are the most common reason for back pain actually. This is due to deconditioned muscles, muscles spasms and tension. Now this is quite difficult to diagnose since muscles work in a synchronized manner, and when a muscles causes pain, this may often produce pain in adjacent and surrounding muscles.

Preventing back pain

Our orthopedic surgeons suggest low impact activities like walking and swimming to prevent back pain. You can also perform muscle strengthening exercises for your back and abdomen. It is strongly recommended that you stop smoking. Smoking causes your spine to age faster than normal. We also recommend that you practice good posture when sitting, lifting objects and standing. Good posture will definitely help you prevent back pains.

Another important thing to consider in back pain is proper nutrition. Being overweight or being always full can add stress to your lower back. Avoid too much sweet and starches and high fat content. These contribute to gain weight. Foods rich in omega 3, vegetables and fruits help our bodies heal damaged tissue and decrease inflammation. Also, avoid low nutrient foods for they can cause muscle and tissue inflammation.

Non-surgical treatment

Accompanying healthy living, expert orthopedic surgeons are able to prescribe treatments for your back pain that does not necessarily involve surgery. It has been shown that medication for pain relief and physical therapy have produced more successful results than back surgery procedures.

When you are suffering from back pain, consult with our orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. With non-surgical treatments, you will be able to enjoy the activities you used to do.

Anatomic ACL surgery treats ACL tears in Asheboro NC

Orthopedic surgeons in Asheboro NC commonly treat ACL tear, an injury to the ligaments of the knee. Interestingly, around 100,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed each year. Most surgery patients are those who participate in high-risk sports like football, basketball, soccer and skiing. However, not all injuries require surgery. ACL strains and sprains are treated without going through surgery and are treated using pain medication, rest and physical therapy.

To help us understand our knees better, let’s talk a little about its anatomy. The bone structure of the knee joint is formed by the shinbone, patella, femur, kneecap, thighbone and tibia. The ACL is one of the four ligaments within the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. The knee joint is a simple hinge held together by these ligaments, named for their locations and their positional relationships with the other ligaments: the medial collateral, the anterior cruciate, the lateral collateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is in the front of the knee, and crosses the posterior cruciate ligament. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as providing rotational stability to the knee.

Approximately 50% of ACL tears occur in combination with damage to the meniscus, articular cartilage, or other ligaments. About 70% of ACL injuries happen from overuse or misuse of the knee joint, and 30% result from direct contact with another player or object.

Patients usually experience swelling and pain immediately after an ACL tear. Within a few hours, the knee will swell, pain will increase and full range of motion is lost. Torn ligaments cannot repair themselves so ACL surgery is required. This is where orthopedic surgeons come in and treat our knee problem.

There is another procedure used by orthopedic surgeons to repair ACL tears. It is called Anatomic ACL. It is an advanced ACL reconstruction although it is not yet widely practiced. However, it has shown to shorten the patient’s recovery time and increase ACL surgery success which in turn restore the knee’s full function. 

If you experience an ACL tear, you don’t have to think that you’re not going to walk properly again. 

Quicker recovery with subvastus knee replacement in Asheboro NC

Subvastus knee replacement is an innovative and exciting new surgical procedure performed only by a few orthopedic surgeons. In the Asheboro NC area, Dr. Megan Swanson is one of them. She has helped hundreds of patients recover from severe knee pain with this muscle-sparing knee surgery technique. Dr. Swanson is currently holding office.

The knee joint is composed of the knee cap, lower end of the thigh bone, and the shin bone. Together with muscles, tendons and ligaments, these must work together so we can move properly. We all know how important our knees are. When our knees are damaged or injured, we can’t do much at all. When we feel pain in our knees, it means it is not functioning properly.

The most common cause of knee pain is arthritis. It comes in several forms, namely:

• Osteoarthritis – happens when the cartilage that cushions the knee bone is worn out
• Rheumatoid arthritis – a disease caused by thick and inflamed joint membranes. Can cause cartilage loss.
• Traumatic arthritis – condition caused by serious knee injury like a knee fracture. Here, knee ligaments are torn causing cartilage damage

As you may have noticed, the most mentioned word is cartilage. Cartilage is a very important part of our knee joints. When cartilage is worn out or is lost, the pain will become so severe that it will require surgery. Common indicators include swelling, chronic knee pain and limited movement that does not improve with medication.

Orthopedicsurgeons  may advise subvastus knee replacement surgery in some cases. Compared to traditional knee replacement surgeries, the subvastus procedure does not cut through the quadriceps tendon and muscles. In this procedure, orthopedic surgeons avoid cutting these muscles by retracting them to the side. So there is no need for the muscles to be sewn back together after the operation. As a result, a shorter recovery time is needed.

This is one of the reasons why patients prefer to go through the subvastus knee replacement procedure. It is effective and minimally invasive. To learn more about this procedure, visit Dr. Swanson.

Delaying shoulder pain treatment causes worry in Asheboro NC

We all know how important our shoulders are. We depend on it to do almost everything from washing your hair to tying your shoe. It is considered the most agile and versatile join in the body. When it is affected one way or another, your life becomes miserable.

Immediate treatment is needed

In our shoulder, there is a part called the rotator cuff. It is a collection of four muscle tendons working together to stabilize your shoulder joint as it moves. Constant motion causes wear and tear on the rotator cuff which results to instability and pain. When you experience pain in your shoulders, consult with us so we can give you a comprehensive explanation of what your condition is.

Signs of a shoulder injury you should look out for are:

• Pain in raising your arm over your head
• Grating or cracking sound when moving your shoulder
• Decreased range of motion
• Inability to sleep on affected shoulder
• Weakness in hands and arms

Consult with your doctor immediately if you feel any or most of these symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment using shoulder arthroscopy

Orthopedic doctors uses shoulder arthroscopy to diagnose and treat shoulder injuries. Some injuries require medication and physical therapy only while others may require surgery. Should arthroscopy is a tool used to help determine what kind of treatment a patient should get. Torn tendons require surgery because they cannot heal themselves. Shoulder replacement surgery repairs or replace damaged cartilage on surfaces within the shoulder joint.

Shoulder pain and injuries can be treated non-surgically depending on its severity. Shoulder arthroscopy is the tool used to help doctors determine the cause and treatment. Consult with orthopedic doctors for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Sports medicine prevention and treatment in Asheboro NC

Sports medicine doctors in Asheboro NC work with athletes and their coaches to ensure that training and play promote fit and skilled performance, and that training and play programs are healthy and safe. For sports medicine doctors, sporting activity is more than simply showing up at the court or field and going at it.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine can be described as being concerned with preventing and managing injury to athletes, and others, who take part in physical activity that can put stress on our musculoskeletal systems. Sports medicine research and exercise science is an important aspect of almost all levels of athletics today.

Sports medicine doctors and sports medicine surgeons undertake additional education to enable them to provide medical service to persons injured in sport or other physical activity. As medical professionals, sports medicine doctors appreciate the stresses an athlete puts on his muscles, joint tissues, and bones during sport, and are familiar with specific risks different sporting activities pose.

We are encouraged to exercise and stay fit, and participating in sports is a common means of exercising for many people. Sometimes injuries occur. Fortunately, many sports injuries can be prevented, and when they do occur, most injuries can be treated effectively and the injured athlete soon returns to his normal level of activity.

Some sports injuries result from accidents, others from poor training or lack of conditioning, insufficient warm-up and stretching, or from improper equipment. Sports injuries generally refer to injuries to muscles, bones and joint tissue such as cartilage and ligaments.

What to do if you experience a sport injury? RICE method a good start

If you experience a sport injury, the first thing you should do is stop the activity that has caused the injury. It is never a good idea to try and play through the pain, as more damage could easily occur. If there is no severe pain, swelling or numbness; if you can put weight on the injured area; if an old injury has not become swollen or if you do not have an unstable joint, you can probably treat your sport injury at home. The R.I.C.E. method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is the place to begin at home treatment. Pain medication that also reduces swelling is an important ingredient in managing sports injury pain, as swelling causes more pain, which in turn causes more swelling, and so on.

Sports medicine doctors sometimes prescribe immobilization of the affected joint, to reduce movement and thereby direct blood flow to where it needs to aid in the healing process. Slings, splints and casts, and full leg immobilizers are common immobilization devices.

Non-surgical techniques preferred by sports medicine doctors

Sports medicine surgeons generally try non-surgical measures in treating sports injuries, largely because a surgical incision is another wound for the body to repair, heal, and rehabilitate.  Many injuries do require the attention of a sports medicine surgeon, but the vast majority of injuries do not need surgery. When surgery is required, many procedures can be accomplished arthroscopically, which is less invasive than open surgery techniques. Sports medicine surgeons are learning a new anatomic ACL reconstruction procedure that uses ligament tissue from the patient in repair of the damaged joint, which heals better than previous joint reconstruction techniques.

Sports medicine surgeons stay on top of the latest developments in order to help their patients return to full activity as soon as possible after a sports injury.  For excellent sports medicine advice and skillful medical care for sports injury, contact the sports medicine doctors at in Asheboro NC