Tag: san diego orthopedic surgeons

After Cortisone: Do I Need Knee Replacement Surgery?

The line for when knee replacement surgery becomes essential has shifted in recent years, as pain management and better therapies have extended the lives of our natural joints. But there comes a time in any patient’s life when she must contend with the question of knee replacement surgery – and wrestle with the pros and cons associated with each.

Total knee replacement surgery has an easier recovery period than it used to, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t work involved. Therapy, exercise, and proper management of the surgical site will still be required, so it’s worth engaging your orthopedist about what to expect moving forward. One article recently described the profile of an ideal TKR patient like this:

The major indication for joint replacement is not being able to deal with the pain anymore. The vast majority of patients after the surgery have significant pain relief and better function. The absolute key to success from this surgery is a motivated patient who works hard with physical therapy to regain range of motion and strength.

Sound like you? Get in touch with the San Diego Orthopedic Surgery Center and we can begin an evaluation right away.

Treating Frozen Shoulder in San Diego

Frozen shoulder syndrome, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a profoundly painful condition in which the shoulder becomes progressively more immobilized over a period of weeks or months. The resulting near-paralysis is utterly incapacitating, rendering active people unable to lift, throw, or sometimes even hold a pen.

The typical treatments for frozen shoulder include steroids and physical therapy. Most orthopedists such as myself will start with therapy and graduate to steroids if necessary; in extreme cases orthopedic shoulder surgery may be indicated to help remove some of the scar tissue that has built up around the glenoid fossa.

The best way to resolve frozen shoulder is to speak with an expert sooner rather than later. Frozen shoulder can arise from different causes, and the only way to identify the culprit for sure is with imaging and a sound medical history. Once your treatment plan has been established, most cases of frozen shoulder have a good prognosis.

To get the best treatment for frozen shoulder in San Diego, contact orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Holland today.

Chronic Shoulder Pain Caused by a Shot

Preventive medicine is filled with injections of various sorts, which are widely considered safe and effective. But the needle itself still represents a small trauma to your system, and when it’s placed in the wrong location, trouble can follow.

This recent account of a botched injection, and the chronic shoulder pain that followed, should serve as a rare but valuable cautionary tale. As one scientist said:

“A vaccine is an immunologically sensitive substance, and if you were to receive an injection too high – in the wrong place – you could get pain, swelling and reduced range of motion in that area,” says Tom Shimabukuro, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization safety office. When that happens, he adds, “an acute process can become chronic.”

Shoulder pain can arise from injury, trauma, disease or stress. The only way to trace any pain back to its source is with a complete examination from an orthopedic shoulder pain specialist. If you are experiencing shoulder pain that never seems to diminish, please contact the San Diego orthopedic surgeons at AOSM today.

Shoulder Surgery and the Elite Prognosis

This fall has brought news of local legend Kobe Bryant’s now-certain return to professional basketball. Those of you following closely may be aware that Kobe has been slumping for some time now, and that whispers of retirement have grown louder in recent years. Add to this a mounting series of sports injuries both major and minor, and there was legitimate reason to question whether he would ever play again.

We can put those to bed. Kobe is back and planning to play all season. One interesting wrinkle for me as an orthopedic surgeon: Kobe has made a fast and, by all accounts, complete recovery following shoulder surgery earlier this year:

Kobe Bryant missed most of last season after undergoing surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff. This surgery forced Bryant to refrain from any basketball activities for nine months.

Progressing right on schedule, the Los Angeles Lakers star recently returned to the court to work on his shooting for the first time since his shoulder surgery.

It’s always encouraging to see the fruits of orthopedic surgery writ large in one of the major sports stories of our time, and especially gratifying to watch elite athletes show the world that steady dedication and rehabilitation can restore full motion and comfort to an injured rotator cuff within a few short months.

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, shoulder discomfort or limited shoulder mobility, it may be time to visit your local orthopedic surgeon. Call the shoulder surgery experts today.