All About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Carpal Tunnel is a small passage in which tissues pass through. Once one tissue swells up, it puts pressure on the median nerve - a syndrome referred to as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If this develops, a person usually feels numbness or pain. Thumb muscles will also become weaker and grasping things will be more difficult. Moreover, a shock-like sensation will be felt in the thumb and first three fingers.

What causes this syndrome? In many cases, it is hereditary. Some people are just born with smaller carpal tunnels. In other cases, the causes are age, hormonal changes due to pregnancy, obesity, hand movement or overuse of the hands, and smoking.

How is it treated? Surgeons will usually recommend a non-surgical treatment by changing the activities of the patients or through medications. A splint or brace may also be placed below the wrists while sleeping to keep the wrists steady at night. If these do not help, surgery may be another option. Open Release is one surgery that orthopedic surgeons do on patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. During the procedure, the surgeon will make an incision on the palm and cut the carpal ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. After this, the incision will be closed and recovery will start.

While a patient is recovering, it is advised that changes will be made on the activities. This entails avoiding activities that may put pressure on the wrists. Various medications will be given and wrist exercises will also be recommended.

Do you think you have CTS? Early detection is very important if you feel you have CTS. Most of the time, non-surgical treatments can be used to fix the problem. For more information on this, visit your local orthopedic doctor in Asheboro NC and consult about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Are your knees in pain?

If you are active in sports like running, soccer, cycling, skiing, and the like, there is a chance that you'd experience what is commonly called as Runners Knee or Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. The causes are usually cartilage damage due to overuse, misalignment, and chronic knee cap dislocation among many. Some of the symptoms are pain under and around the knee caps, swelling, and pain while walking, kneeling, or squatting.

Although many surgeons prefer to resort to non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and medication, there are some cases that will really require surgery. One usual treatment is the lateral release of the knee. During the procedure, orthopedic surgeons cut out tight tissue on the lateral side of the knee cap, which allows the patella to slide down to the center of the femoral groove. If there is any damage in the cartilage, surgeons also do repairs during this surgery to avoid any problems in the future.

How is recovery like? This surgery is minimally invasive, which means that healing time is shorter. Also, post-surgery, orthopedic surgeons will only usually recommend physical therapy that will aid in healing and strengthening the knees as well.

So, if you feel that something isn't right with your knees, go to the nearest orthopedic clinic in Asheboro NC and consult with a doctor. Remember that early detection of injuries will be easier to fix!

Are you an athlete?

Participating in a sport is a great way to stay healthy and, at the same time, an arena to practice and develop a person's social skills. Although playing a sport is really fun, we must recognize that it is also physically demanding. Sometimes, too, we tend to overwork our body - therefore causing all sorts of injuries.

If you love sports so much, learn to take care of your body. Remember that if you use your body the wrong way, you may never be able to play the sport you enjoy. One way to take care of your body when playing a sport is by being conscious to its needs. If you start feeling any pain, don't ignore it! Have it checked by a sports medicine doctor to see if you need to rest or if you the area needs treatment.

There are many clinics that focus on injuries caused by sports like Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. If you want to stay fit, healthy, and strong, they're the ones you should go to. They can help you treat the injuries you already have and prevent other injuries from occuring!

Diagnosing meniscal tears in Asheboro NC

Meniscal tears are knee injuries common among athletes as well as non-athletes at almost any age and activity level. This type of injury often happens during sports when a player comes into contact with another player, and it can also occur in older adults whose menisci have weakened over time and with age. Even a motion as simple as twisting the wrong way when getting up from a chair may result in a meniscal tear for an elderly adult.

 

Symptoms of meniscal tear
Meniscal tears are often paired with a “popping” sound, much like ACL sprains and tears, however, many patients are able to continue walking. Over a few days, the knee will become stiff and swollen, and motion become limited. Common symptoms of meniscal tears include pain, swelling, a locking of the knee joint, and the knee “giving way.”

 

Physical exam and imaging tests

Meniscal tears often appear as common knee injuries. Diagnosing meniscal tears involve tests such as the McMurray test, a bending, straightening and rotating of the knee. The distinct “clicking” sound each time the knee moves is a telltale sign of meniscal tears. To rule out the possibility of other knee injuries, sports medicine doctors may order visual tests such as an X-ray or MRI before making a diagnosis.

 

If immediate treatment for meniscal tears is not sought, the meniscus can loosen and float into the joint, causing the knee to slip, pop, or lock. Serious complications brought by this type of injury can be avoided by consulting with sports medicine doctors or orthopedic surgeons at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Asheboro NC.

Common symptoms of ligament sprains and strains

Our body moves when muscles contract and make joints flex, extend, and rotate. A strain occurs when the muscle tendon is stretched or torn. Overusing and stretching a muscle results in a strain to occur.

 

Ligaments allow our joints to move in specific directions. If a ligament is stretched or torn, the injury is called a sprain.

 

Here are the common symptoms of sprains and strains when you have them:

• Pain is always the first symptom that indicates that there is something wrong with the body. Through pain, the brain is warned that a muscle or joint should be protected from further harm. In work, exercise, or sport, the pain may be felt after a particular incident or it may gradually progress after many repetitions of a motion. 
• Swelling is another symptom of sprain or strain and usually comes with an injury, although it may take some time for it to be noticed. When fibers of a ligament, muscle, or tendon are damaged, bleeding such as bruising on the surface of the skin can occur. 
• The pain and swelling cause the body to protect the injured part. As a result,you may find it difficult to use the injured part of your body. For example, you cannot use your injured leg without limping.

Ligament sprains and strains are injuries that may or may not require surgery. For a complete examination of a ligament injury, orthopedic experts at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can make a professional recommendation as well advice for treatment.

ACL Reconstruction: Quick Facts

The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is a small ligament located inside your knee joint that stabilizes your   knee. Any injury or tearing  in this area will drastically change your movement dynamics. It has ended the careers of many professional athletes and restrained the mobility of active individuals. If left untreated, the knee will literally slide on itself thus opening up an avenue for further injuries.

Have you heard about a pro athlete or a friend with an ACL injury? It usually takes several months or years for rehabilitation and training to restore your joint to their pre-injury status.

Because ACL reconstruction is a very complex procedure, the sports medicine orthopedic surgeon’s expertise and experience will matter. Repair will involve replacing the torn tendon with another tendon from another part of the body (usually the hamstrings or the patella) or use a cadaver’s tissue.  The placement of the ligament is very important because this affects the stability and the amount of movement they are trying to replicate.

At Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Asheboro NC., orthopedic doctors employ the latest and most promising ACL reconstruction technique. Anatomic ACL reconstruction is the process of replicating the original position of the torn ligament with a new one. The orthopedic surgeons must be able to identify the correct location of the local ligament and replicate the function of the native ligament. Another approach is using two tendons to replicate the original.

Orthopedic doctors can also use two tendons to replicate the original, this is called the double bundle approach. The two ligament implants will limit rotation yet allow for the sliding motion of the tibia on the femur.  Finding the right anatomic position gives the best results. Visit Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for a consultation about ACL repair.

Elective joint replacement surgery and mouth infection

Why would you see someone for your teeth when your problem is your joint? This is the question a patient usually asks when his or her orthopedic surgeon recommends seeking consultation with a dentist before elective joint replacement surgery. 

Mouth infection or abnormal number of bacteria in the mouth can cause inflammation. A swollen blood vessel will be more permeable and the bacteria could migrate into the bloodstream and implant itself to other parts of the body. These bacteria can lodge itself in your brand new joint. 

Infection in your newly implanted joint is the most dreaded complication in joint replacement surgery even if done by expert orthopedic doctors. They will have to remove the newly implanted joint just to manage that infection.

Before an elective joint replacement surgery you have to make sure that there are no infections in your mouth or any of your teeth. Your Asheboro NC orthopedic surgeons at the Human Motion Institute at Randolph Hospital may require you to secure this clearance before your surgery to ensure a successful surgery.

Having elective joint replacement surgery is important to eliminate pain and live a comfortable and full life. Seeing your dentist before this particular surgery is just as important. 

Consult with your local Asheboro orthopedic professionals of Human Motion Institute at Randolph Hospital about elective joint replacement surgery and mouth infection.

All About Bursitis

Are you engaged in any activity or occupation that can cause repetitive strain on your joints? You are at risk of bursitis.

Bursa are fluid filled sacs that provide cushion for our joints, tendons and muscles surrounding the joints to provide protection from trauma and prevent  them rubbing too much against each other.
Bursitis is a condition in which trauma and overuse cause injury and inflammation on the bursa. Symptoms include pain, tenderness or swelling on your shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and ankles.

At first you may experience mere discomfort on the affected area. It can get worse that it keeps you from doing certain activities. Watch out for a reddish, slightly swollen area near the joint, which is tender to touch. This happens if the affected bursa is near the surface.

There are different types of bursitis, depending on the affected area. Certain occupations or activities predispose some people to bursitis.

A student’s elbow is a type of bursitis that affects anyone like students and plumbers who frequently rest their elbows on any surface.

A miner’s shoulder is a common complaint among miners who are always doing overhead motions when digging or carrying things overhead. Repetitive force on the shoulder can cause inflammation.

Kneecap bursitis is often experienced by carpet layers, clergymen, and other people who are often on their knees.

These types of bursitis are also experienced by athletes who can get injured due to falling or blows to their joints while playing contact sports.

Ask your Asheboro NC orthopedic doctors at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine about prevention and treatment of bursitis.

Orthopedic surgery saves me from knee pain

When I reached my 50's and I started experiencing periodic knee pain, I always attributed it to overwork. I would just simply do some home remedy and after some time I will either forget about the pain or it will gradually subside. This has been going on for quite awhile now but since I can handle it, I never bother to go and see the orthopedic doctor at Randolph Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.

I thought things will stay the same until I'm old and have reached the dreary age of 90. But this is not what luck would have it. I soon realized that the dull uncomfortable feeling I was experiencing has suddenly become a full-blown pain which is progressing rapidly. The daily chores like vacuuming and even standing while washing the dishes become unbearable tasks.

I then decide to go and see my doctor who in turn told me that I have osteoarthritis of the knees. And that I must do something about it soon or the continuous rubbing of my femur on the tibia will render me crippled. This situation, I was told is the effect of the activities we engaged in which have damaged the cartilage lining the knees. I was advised to go and consult an orthopedic surgeon so that I can see the options I have.

The visit was a fruitful one because not only have I found someone who is willing to help me regain the use of my knees but I also met people who are willing to go out of their way to explain to me the whole process I will have to go through. They have also assured me with their usual friendly smile that the surgery will be successful and that I can regain the use of my knees particularly if I will remember to follow the doctor's order to the letter.

It has been months after my operation and I am so glad I followed my doctor's advise to consult someone at Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. You can also experience the success I have been enjoying if you will go and see an orthopedic doctor now.

Top 2 reasons to choose subvastus knee replacement surgery

Knee pain is one of the top complaints most people suffer from. The cause of knee pain can be as minor as tiredness to complicated reason such as fractured bones and torn ligaments. Most knee complaints can easily be remedied with medications that can be both taken orally or rubbed on as liniment.

Most knee pain complaints can easily be taken care of at home with a home cure but there are knee pain causes that need the professional help of an orthopedic surgeon. A thorough examination of your complaint to discover the real cause of it is the first step towards the cure of your symptoms.

Once the orthopedic surgeon you consulted in Asheboro, NC recommends knee surgery, you must sit down with them and decide on the best procedure to use. The decision will mostly depend on what kind of knee damage you are suffering from as well as your pain threshold including your personal circumstances.

A highly acclaimed surgical knee procedure that Randolph Orthopedics is now offering will guarantee you less pain and less recovery period on top of its effectiveness as a knee-pain blaster.

Unlike those ordinary arthroplasty for knee replacement that surgeons usually recommend in the past, the subvastus knee replacement surgery is less invasive on your body --- both inside and out. Patients who have undergone the surgical procedure sing the praises for subvastus knee replacement surgery on two things:

1. The safest and most reliable implants

The procedure is the product gleaned from 40 years of knee replacement experience coupled with the knowledge of the different materials used for implants. The procedure is designed to utilize the most reliable implants with long-standing proven success in a procedure that is founded on the idea of no-pain, less invasive method.

2. Less pain and rapid recovery

As a result of the modern technology applied to the design of subvastus knee replacement surgery, the patient is exposed to an almost painless surgical procedure and much less post-surgery pain and faster recovery.

With the guaranteed success of the subvastus knee replacement surgery there is no reason not to consider it. Particularly after you have talked and discussed your condition with a Randolph Orthopedics and Sports Medicine knee surgeon in Asheboro, NC.