Tag: orthopedic surgeon in san diego

Relieve Elbow Pain Here in San Diego

Muscle and tendon pain in the elbow is typically given one of two names: tennis elbow for the outside of the joint, and golfer’s elbow for the inside. Both injuries are related: when repetitive movements stress the tendons anywhere past their limit, the resulting pain can be persistent and difficult to treat.

This article takes a look at an escalating series of options for resolving elbow pain, from rest and anti-inflammatories to steroids and surgery. Of that last option, the author notes that although it is generally a last resort, it also may be necessary:

“The last resort is surgery, an arthroscopic tendon release,” Suppiah says. “But it might be necessary if you suffer from repeated issues with the tendons — tendinosis — and nothing else works.”

The first step in resolving your elbow pain is to visit an orthopedic surgeon in San Diego. When you speak with the professionals in my office, you can expect the gold standard in diagnosis and care. If elbow surgery is required, I can speak with you about the best options right away.

The Latest Knee Implant Surgery Devices

The meniscus of the knee is a sort of pad that keeps the large, heavy bones of the joint from abrading each other with every step. When your meniscus becomes inflamed or degraded, the resulting pain can be intense.

As an orthopedic surgeon in San Diego, I treat a number of children and adults with meniscus injuries, prescribing a range of interventions from rest and steroids to arthroscopic knee surgery. Although these treatments work well, it wasn’t until recently that soft tissue such as the meniscus could be replaced wholesale.

Now a new device is making waves here in the states – an artificial meniscus that has already won over converts in Europe. It was recently granted its first human trial in Boston:

Doctors inserted NUsurface meniscus implant in the knee of Brockton, Mass., resident Rob Price at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before Thanksgiving. Price had his ACL replaced in his left knee, and his meniscus was removed because of a tear, about 10 years ago after playing basketball.

The prognosis looks good so far, even as the device continues to undergo FDA scrutiny. If and when it earns widespread approval, this device will represent yet another leap forward in our treatment of knee pain and knee injuries.

Want to learn more about surgery for knee pain in San Diego? Contact my practice here.

Understanding Elbow Surgery

As a San Diego orthopedic surgeon who treats kids alongside adults, I spend a lot of time talking to athletes about how to extend their active careers.

Baseball is an evergreen topic when it comes to sports medicine, especially the various burdens that pitchers place on their shoulders and elbows. Many of these conversations focus on the pros and cons of a common elbow surgery procedure known as Tommy John surgery. At one end of the spectrum I see rising pitchers who wonder when they might require a Tommy John procedure, while at the other I field questions from seasoned pitchers who have had the procedure and wonder what to expect as they ease out of their competitive years.

The answers to such questions typically depend on each patient’s individual history, genetics and lifestyle, but they all start with an understanding of the process. This article covers the basics of Tommy John surgery in simple language, including this key passage about a wrist tendon known as the palmaris:

Once the tendon is harvested, the doctor will have the tendon cleaned and cut to size while he goes back into the elbow. Holes are drilled through the bones of the upper and lower arm, angled to allow the tendon to loop through and be placed in as near an identical position as the damaged ligament. In some cases the doctor will leave the damaged tendon in place, but most dissect it away.

The donor tendon is then looped through two or three times and locked into place. The doctor will then check that the ulnar nerve (“funny bone”), which runs through the same area, is not entrapped. Some doctors will move (transpose) the nerve as a matter of course, while others leave it in place. Nerve entrapment is one of the most common complications of the surgery. Tommy John himself suffered from the issue.

Recovery is often rapid, and research shows that this kind of elbow surgery is surprisingly durable and resilient. It’s not a magic bullet, however, and pitchers should be disabused of the notion that it will result in superhuman improvement. Like anything else, the mechanics of Tommy John surgery don’t hold up forever, and revision or followup appointments may be required.

Bottom line: if you’re experiencing elbow pain already, it’s wise to speak with an orthopedic surgeon about your options for surgery, recovery, and aftercare. To learn more, contact the San Diego elbow surgery experts here today.