Are you suffering from stubborn joint pain that just doesn’t go away? Has your back been hurting for some time? Millions of people in the United States suffer from musculoskeletal problems every year, and they come from a wide variety of sources: overuse, strains, sprains, and simple back, knee, and shoulder pain.

Many people resort to painkilling medication to relieve pain but that is only a temporary solution. It also carries the risk of tolerance and dependence. It is always better to see an orthopedic doctor or surgeon to overcome your pain and discomfort entirely.

Orthopedic surgeons treat the problems arising from the musculoskeletal system. Here are some common signs that you need orthopedic treatment –

• Stubborn or chronic pain in the muscles, joints or tendons, that persists for more than a few days
• Deformity in joints
• Any signs of infection in the joints, such as inflammation, swelling, redness, heat
• Difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living
• Joint pain persists even while resting
• Swelling or bruising around a joint or injury
• Restricted range of motion

There is a common myth involved with orthopedic treatment. Many people think that orthopedic doctors or surgeons only use surgery to treat orthopedic problems. This is not true. Surgery is always the last resort if medication, physical therapy and minimally invasive procedures fail to provide relief and restore motion and function in the affected part of the body.

The knee joint may suffer damage during almost any activity, even sitting down. Here’s what you need to know about the five most common knee injuries, and their treatment.

Meniscal Tears

The meniscus is a thin cartilage rim that cushions the knee joint. The meniscus may become torn or ruptured in an athletic or other injury, causing pain, swelling, tenderness, and a limited range of motion.

Meniscus tears do not often heal by themselves but respond quite well to physical therapy and other conservative treatments. Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary in the most severe tears.

ACL Injuries

The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of the four important ligaments that stabilize the knee. The ACL may get torn due to a sudden shift of force or direction, as in sports injuries. A partial or complete tear causes pain, swelling, instability in the knee, and, a popping sound in the knee.

While partial tears in less active patients can be treated conservatively, active patients who suffer from partial or complete tears need arthroscopic surgery to regain knee joint function.

Fractures

Three bones – the thigh bone, the shin bone and the kneecap – together make up the knee. Any of these bones can break during a fall, a car accident, or indirect trauma. A fractured bone can cause heavy pain, severe swelling, and difficulty walking.

Stable fractures can heal by themselves within several weeks or months once set in a cast. But displaced fractures require surgery to reset the bones. In both cases, recovery requires an extensive physical therapy program to strengthen the joint and regain the full range of motion.

Dislocations

The kneecap or patella may become dislodged from the groove at the bottom of the femur. This is referred to as dislocation and can be caused as a result of an acute or chronic injury. It causes severe pain and swelling and restricted motion.

Many patellar dislocations can be stabilized with rest and bracing but a repeatedly dislocated kneecap may require surgery.

Tendon Tears

The patellar tendon is the tissue responsible for connecting the thigh muscles to the patella. It allows you to flex and straighten your knee. It may become ruptured due to a sudden, strong force, and tear upon a fall or an awkward landing.

Partial tears can be treated conservatively with a brace and physical therapy. But a full tear will require surgery.

Both athletes and non-athletes can suffer from a knee injury. If you’re suffering from acute or chronic knee pain, it’s time to consult an experienced orthopedic surgeon to help you recover completely.

Minimally invasive knee arthroscopic surgery has proven beneficial for patients with knee problems where surgery is recommended. Since arthroscopy requires smaller incisions, it doesn’t cause much damage to the surrounding soft tissues, reduces blood loss, decreases hospital stay and risk of complications. All these factors make recovery quicker and complete.

Clinical scenarios, in which arthroscopic surgery may be suitable, include –

• known or suspected septic arthritis
• Symptomatic meniscal tears that have been treated with non-operative treatment, without relief
• Symptomatic loose bodies
• Locked or locking knees
• Meniscal tears that require repair
• Inflammatory arthropathy requiring synovectomy
• Synovial pathology requiring biopsy or resection
• Unstable chondral pathology causing mechanical symptoms
• As an adjunct to, and in combination with, other surgical procedures as appropriate for osteoarthritis: for example, high tibial osteotomy and patellofemoral realignment
• As a diagnostic tool when the condition of the knee or the problem is unclear on MRI or MRI is not possible, and the symptoms are not of osteoarthritis

When osteoarthritis is present, the decision for arthroscopic surgery is made by the treating orthopedic surgeon –

• after a thorough review and assessment of the arthroscopically treatable pathology, contribution of the osteoarthritis, and the patient’s symptoms
• only after all conservative and minimally invasive treatment options have been utilized but failed to provide relief and restoration of function
• after a thorough discussion with the patient about the advantages of the arthroscopic procedure as opposed to continuing non-invasive treatment

Athletic activity is a great way to maintain fitness and is terrific for our overall health. However, any activity that causes stress on joints and soft tissues, can cause injuries. There are 3 common knee and shoulder injuries that athletes encounter.

Meniscus Injuries

The meniscus is a wedge-shaped cartilage in the knee joint. There are two menisci in each joint that act as “shock absorbers” between your thigh and shin bone. Meniscus tears are the most common knee injuries among those who play contact sports. When you hear your doctor talk about torn knee cartilage in the knee, s/he is usually referring to a torn meniscus.

ACL Injury

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, runs diagonally in the middle of your knee. The ACL prevents the tibia from sliding out and provides rotational stability in the knee. Skiers, soccer, basketball and football players are at high risk for ACL injuries due to the stress on the knees.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that cover the head of the upper arm or humerus. The rotator cuff helps you lift and rotate your arm. Injured or torn rotator cuff tendons can become inflamed and painful. You should get immediate medical evaluation if you are experiencing persistent shoulder pain and difficulty in reaching or overhead movements.

For any joint injury, it is recommended that you seek urgent medical attention to prevent the injury from worsening and to restore motion and function in the affected joint.

Shoulder pain can happen for so many different reasons, it is important to know the difference between something that would go away by itself or something serious that requires medical attention.

Let us understand when your shoulder pain requires an urgent trip to the doctor.

1. If your shoulder seems popped or out of place, especially after an injury or accident, this requires immediate medical attention. Out of place shoulder could indicate ligament tears that would threaten shoulder stability.

2. A popping or clicking sensation may be a sign of a labral tear, which may require surgery to fix.

3. If you are not able to lift your arm pain free, it is time to see a doctor. It could indicate a rotator cuff injury which often requires surgery.

4. If your shoulder pain is not due to a trauma but due to overuse or aging, it is important to note any changes in the severity of pain and range of motion. Increasingly worsening pain could be an indication of arthritis. Getting timely medical help for early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis can delay its progression.

If you simply not sure, seek professional medical advice anyway. Seemingly harmless discomfort and pain may worsen and turn chronic, if left untreated. So, it is best to see an experienced orthopedic surgeon right away.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that gradually wears away the protective joint cartilage. It is the most common form of arthritis and has no cure till date. However, several conservative and interventional pain management methods can help to reduce pain and delay progression.

Treatment options include physical therapy, prescription pain medications, steroid injections, or joint replacement surgery. But regenerative medicine has given us a new treatment called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy which may help to delay the need for surgery in moderate arthritis cases.

PRP therapy uses the patient’s own blood for its healing properties. The patient blood sample is drawn and filtered. Platelets are then concentrated. Platelets produce a high concentration of essential growth factors which initiate a natural healing response. The extraction and injection, both, are relatively painless. The growth factors can repair the degenerative cartilage, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Patients need to undergo treatments for about 4 to 6 weeks. The basic aim of PRP is to assist repair and build up damaged and worn out tissues.

Since the platelets are extracted from the patient’s own blood, there are virtually no risks of infection and rejection.

If you are experiencing knee pain due to osteoarthritis and don’t want it to prevent you from living a healthy, active life, ask your orthopedic doctor about PRP therapy.

The number of total knee replacements continues to rise. Despite the long recovery process, an increasing number of people believe that a knee replacement surgery can help them live a better life.

But how do you know you need a knee replacement surgery? Read on for answers.

Patients, and doctors, prefer conservative and minimally invasive treatment options for any health problems and knees are no exception. Many times, the best treatment option is to undergo total or partial knee replacement.

Telltale Signs you need Knee Replacement Surgery

• Severe knee pain that interferes with or even prevents everyday activities
• The pain persists even during rest; you feel moderate to severe pain at all times
• Knee swelling and inflammation that have become stubborn
• Knee stiffness
• Bowing of the leg
• Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs fail to provide pain relief.

These signs are serious. Do not allow them to become worse. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, consult an orthopedic surgeon immediately.

Left untreated, these symptoms may give way to even more serious problems, such as –

• Weakened knee muscles and ligaments
• Knee deformities
• Loss of motion and function in the knee
• Knee joint degeneration
• Delayed knee surgery may not prove as effective as it can when performed early