Article featured on Greene County Medical Center
Your job can be hard work. Depending on what you do, you could be lifting heavy objects, doing repetitive motions, twisting, turning and moving all day long. The muscles, joints and nerves in your body can take a beating, but it’s important to take care of them before the problems become severe. Consider these warning signs to determine when to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor.
1. Shoulder Pain
Pain in shoulders that increases at night and gets worse with movement should be examined by an orthopedic doctor. These symptoms are often combined with tenderness around a joint and can be a sign of tendonitis. This condition, which occurs due to overuse or injury, can display the same symptoms in the elbow, heel and wrist. Tendons join the muscles to the bones in the body. If they become injured, overworked or lose elasticity during aging, they can cause the tendon to swell and become inflamed.
2. Trouble Climbing Stairs
Over time, joints in the knees and hips naturally begin to deteriorate, but sometimes they become too painful to function. If you have trouble walking, climbing stairs or getting out of chairs, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery. Chronic pain that lasts more than six months and affects your daily life is a sign that your joints may be damaged. Reasons for joint replacement include past injuries and years of constant use.
3. Tingling or Numb Hands
If you feel like you commonly drop things, or if you have had a tingling in your thumb, index or middle finger, it’s possible that you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The nerve that runs from your forearm to your wrist travels through a “tunnel” in your wrist and gives the sensation to your thumb and all of your fingers except your pinky. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by several things including a previous wrist fracture or working with tools or machinery that vibrate or require repetitive flexing of the wrist.
4. Pain from Repetitive Motions
Occupations that require movement in a repetitive motion often create stress injuries in the muscles, tendons and nerves. Machines that produce vibrations, constantly awkward positions and forceful exertions also can cause stress injuries. This condition can cause pain and uncomfortable feelings in your body, especially in the upper body.
5. Painful Joints
Persistent or chronic pain in your joints is a sign that something is wrong. The term “chronic” means the pain lasts three to six months, or never goes away. This pain can be associated with inflammation or swelling around the joints, but it can also be a sign that the bones of the joints are rubbing together. All of these symptoms can be a sign of arthritis.
Arthritis is more prevalent in women than in men, and the risk of developing arthritis increases with age. However, people as young as 20 can develop arthritis depending on their risk factors. Excess weight, previous joint injuries and repeated bending of individual joints due to an occupation or everyday task can also increase your chances of arthritis.
6. Twisted Ankles
Walking on uneven ground or stepping on an object can often cause you to roll or twist your ankle. Pain on the outside of the ankle, swelling and bruising are all typical signs of a twisted or sprained ankle. Sprains are common in people who are on the move during the day. Some people have a predisposition to spraining their ankles due to their posture or the way their feet are turned. Past ankle sprains are also a risk factor for injuring your ankle again.
7. Swollen Wrist
If you have ever fallen and landed on your hand, the chances are your wrist became swollen and bruised. More than likely, you had a sprained wrist. A sprain is the stretching of the ligaments that connect your bones to each other. Pulling or possibly even tearing these ligaments causes pain and loss of mobility in your wrist.
8. Swollen Joints
Joints that are swollen, tender, warm or stiff can be a sign of bursitis. This condition is caused by an increase in activity level, overuse or excess weight. A bursa is a sac filled with fluid that protects the muscles, tendons and bones from rubbing against each other. Bursitis is the swelling of these sacs. It happens most often in the shoulders, knees, elbows, feet and hips.
9. Worsening Injury
An injury from an accident, like a fall or major collision, takes time to heal, but if the pain and swelling aren’t going away on their own you might have a fracture. A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. They happen most often to the arms, hips, spine and legs. Children break their arms more than adults because they attempt to catch themselves when they fall. People most at risk for fractures are under the age of 20 or over the age of 65.
Signs of a fracture include swelling or bruising over an injury to a bone, pain that gets worse with movement or pressure, and a loss of function of the injured body part.
10. Weak, Stiff and Bruised Muscles
If you have had an injury and are now experiencing swelling, pain and a bluish discoloration around the injury, it’s possible you have a muscle contusion. These injuries happen when a muscle is hit with a blunt object, or your body is slammed into a hard object. The fibers of the muscle are crushed, but the skin is not broken. Sometimes, blood can pool under the skin creating a lump over the injury.
What SI Joint Pain is and How to Treat It
in SpineArticle featured on Summit Orthopedics
What is the SI joint?
The sacroiliac joint, more commonly known as the SI joint, is where the pelvis meets the bottom of the spine. That joint can get irritated, and there is a major nerve that sits on top of this joint. If the joint is irritated, then often the nerve will get irritated also, causing broad pain in that region.
It’s a complex diagnosis because pain in this area can also be referred pain from issues in the spinal canal.
What causes SI joint pain?
Pain in the SI joint is fairly common and can be caused by many different things. For example, the joint can get irritated by abnormal movement patterns. For example, if you’re recovering from ankle surgery or have heel pain, you may be walking differently than you typically do. That can cause SI joint pain.
Another common cause of SI joint pain is previous back surgery, particularly in the lower back (lumbar spine).
What are some common SI joint pain symptoms?
How can I treat my SI joint pain?
There is good news for people dealing with SI joint pain. There are lots of great, effective treatment options that don’t require surgery:
Many people present with what they think is SI joint area pain. Because it is difficult to diagnose, those patients benefit from an expert consultation to make sure the problem is actually with the SI joint, because it masquerades as quite a few things.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Baseball Season is Here: Watch out for UCL Tears
in Arm Injuries, Elbow Injuries, Sports Related InjuriesArticle featured on MedicineNet
Spring brings with it the joy of baseball, but too much of a good thing can lead to elbow injuries in young pitchers.
An expert from UT Southwestern in Dallas offers some tips for youth baseball players, their parents and coaches about avoiding and being aware of injuries, including tears or ruptures of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
“Athletes 18 and younger should not pitch more than 100 innings in games during a calendar year,” said Dr. Nathan Boes, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of sports medicine for Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. “And they should take four months a year with no competitive pitching.”
UCL injuries are the most common elbow injury among baseball players of all ages, from youth to major leagues. When the injury is severe, it can require reconstructive surgery, sometimes called Tommy John surgery, named after the pitcher who was the first to have the procedure in 1974 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The UCL runs along the inside of the elbow, with three bands that connect the upper arm bone to the largest of the forearm bones. What happens is that pitching’s repetitive motion causes microtrauma in the UCL. Symptoms include a popping sensation, swelling or irritation on the inside of the elbow, pain while throwing and numbness or tingling in the ring and pinky fingers.
“Parents and coaches should avoid youths’ yearlong specialization in only baseball,” Boes said in medical center news release. “Athletes should be encouraged to play multiple sports, to give their arms a break during the offseason.”
Young players ages 15 to 19 now comprise almost 57% of UCL reconstruction surgeries.
It’s best to have your young baseball player checked by an orthopedic or sports medicine doctor if they have elbow pain or trouble throwing, Boes advised. When left untreated, these injuries can lead to nerve damage and stress fractures.
Diagnosis involves a physical exam and an X-ray or MRI. Treatment varies, depending on severity of the injury.
Treatments can be nonsurgical, which includes anti-inflammatory medications, ice and physical therapy. Rehabilitation can take 12 or more weeks.
If that’s not enough, it may require UCL repair or reconstructive surgery.
In repair, ligament tears may be able to be treated through a small incision on the inside edge of the elbow. Patients usually can begin a supervised throwing program in about 10 weeks, Boes said, with a goal of returning to competition about six months after surgery.
In reconstructive surgery, the surgeon rebuilds the ligament by transplanting a tendon, usually from the patient’s wrist. Recovery lasts up to a year. About 90% of patients can return to their previous level of performance.
“There are many factors that go into rehabilitation after an elbow injury,” Boes said. “Therapy can be used to address deficiencies in core and lower extremity strength, motion, balance, and overall mechanics. Athletes should use this rehab time to be making gains in these areas as well, which will enhance their arm recovery.”
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
10 Signs You Need to See an Orthopedic Doctor
in Wellness TipsArticle featured on Greene County Medical Center
Your job can be hard work. Depending on what you do, you could be lifting heavy objects, doing repetitive motions, twisting, turning and moving all day long. The muscles, joints and nerves in your body can take a beating, but it’s important to take care of them before the problems become severe. Consider these warning signs to determine when to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor.
1. Shoulder Pain
Pain in shoulders that increases at night and gets worse with movement should be examined by an orthopedic doctor. These symptoms are often combined with tenderness around a joint and can be a sign of tendonitis. This condition, which occurs due to overuse or injury, can display the same symptoms in the elbow, heel and wrist. Tendons join the muscles to the bones in the body. If they become injured, overworked or lose elasticity during aging, they can cause the tendon to swell and become inflamed.
2. Trouble Climbing Stairs
Over time, joints in the knees and hips naturally begin to deteriorate, but sometimes they become too painful to function. If you have trouble walking, climbing stairs or getting out of chairs, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery. Chronic pain that lasts more than six months and affects your daily life is a sign that your joints may be damaged. Reasons for joint replacement include past injuries and years of constant use.
3. Tingling or Numb Hands
If you feel like you commonly drop things, or if you have had a tingling in your thumb, index or middle finger, it’s possible that you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The nerve that runs from your forearm to your wrist travels through a “tunnel” in your wrist and gives the sensation to your thumb and all of your fingers except your pinky. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by several things including a previous wrist fracture or working with tools or machinery that vibrate or require repetitive flexing of the wrist.
4. Pain from Repetitive Motions
Occupations that require movement in a repetitive motion often create stress injuries in the muscles, tendons and nerves. Machines that produce vibrations, constantly awkward positions and forceful exertions also can cause stress injuries. This condition can cause pain and uncomfortable feelings in your body, especially in the upper body.
5. Painful Joints
Persistent or chronic pain in your joints is a sign that something is wrong. The term “chronic” means the pain lasts three to six months, or never goes away. This pain can be associated with inflammation or swelling around the joints, but it can also be a sign that the bones of the joints are rubbing together. All of these symptoms can be a sign of arthritis.
Arthritis is more prevalent in women than in men, and the risk of developing arthritis increases with age. However, people as young as 20 can develop arthritis depending on their risk factors. Excess weight, previous joint injuries and repeated bending of individual joints due to an occupation or everyday task can also increase your chances of arthritis.
6. Twisted Ankles
Walking on uneven ground or stepping on an object can often cause you to roll or twist your ankle. Pain on the outside of the ankle, swelling and bruising are all typical signs of a twisted or sprained ankle. Sprains are common in people who are on the move during the day. Some people have a predisposition to spraining their ankles due to their posture or the way their feet are turned. Past ankle sprains are also a risk factor for injuring your ankle again.
7. Swollen Wrist
If you have ever fallen and landed on your hand, the chances are your wrist became swollen and bruised. More than likely, you had a sprained wrist. A sprain is the stretching of the ligaments that connect your bones to each other. Pulling or possibly even tearing these ligaments causes pain and loss of mobility in your wrist.
8. Swollen Joints
Joints that are swollen, tender, warm or stiff can be a sign of bursitis. This condition is caused by an increase in activity level, overuse or excess weight. A bursa is a sac filled with fluid that protects the muscles, tendons and bones from rubbing against each other. Bursitis is the swelling of these sacs. It happens most often in the shoulders, knees, elbows, feet and hips.
9. Worsening Injury
An injury from an accident, like a fall or major collision, takes time to heal, but if the pain and swelling aren’t going away on their own you might have a fracture. A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. They happen most often to the arms, hips, spine and legs. Children break their arms more than adults because they attempt to catch themselves when they fall. People most at risk for fractures are under the age of 20 or over the age of 65.
Signs of a fracture include swelling or bruising over an injury to a bone, pain that gets worse with movement or pressure, and a loss of function of the injured body part.
10. Weak, Stiff and Bruised Muscles
If you have had an injury and are now experiencing swelling, pain and a bluish discoloration around the injury, it’s possible you have a muscle contusion. These injuries happen when a muscle is hit with a blunt object, or your body is slammed into a hard object. The fibers of the muscle are crushed, but the skin is not broken. Sometimes, blood can pool under the skin creating a lump over the injury.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Common Bicycling Safety Training & Injuries
in Sports Related InjuriesArticle featured on UPMC
Bicycling Injuries
Kids usually get their first taste of freedom when they learn to ride a bicycle. But ill-fitting equipment and traffic put riders at risk for falls, sprains, strains, and more serious cycling injuries.
Simple adjustments to their bikes and helmets, plus learning the rules of the road and other important bicycle safety tips, can help your young riders avoid injury.
Common Bicycling Injuries and Statistics
Bicycle injuries caused by overuse
If a bike isn’t the correct size — either too high or too low — cyclists can suffer repetitive or overuse injuries in the:
Common bicycling overuse injuries include tendonitis of the knee and strains to the calf muscles.
Preventing Bicycling Injuries
A good-fitting helmet
In order to prevent head injuries, a helmet must fit properly and follow the eyes, ears, and mouth rule:
The right bike
Proper fit doesn’t stop with the helmet. The bike must fit the rider, too.
One of the more common mistakes is buying a bike a child can “grow in to,” which may be economical, but it’s not safe. The young rider will have a tough time controlling a bike that’s too large.
There should be one to two inches of clearance between the rider’s crotch and the bicycle’s top tube when the rider is straddling the bike flat-footed. For a girl’s bike, imagine that there is a top tube extending horizontally from the front of the bike and measure from there.
Strong legs
In addition to having properly fitting equipment, all bikers can benefit from hip, thigh, and calf strengthening to prevent wear and tear on muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Bicycling safety tips and rules
These rules will help you ensure the safety of your young bike rider. Always model and teach proper behavior. Learn the rules of the road and obey traffic laws.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Back Pain in Teens & Kids
in Back PainArticle featured on Spine-Health
There are several unique aspects to consider when back pain occurs in a child or teenager. In rare cases, back pain may be a sign of a serious underlying condition that requires prompt medical attention.
Back pain in children and adolescents may increase with age and typically affects girls more than boys.
This article provides comprehensive information about back pain in children and teens, including the probable causes, diagnostic considerations, and available treatment options, to help parents and caregivers understand and support kids with this symptom.
Common Risk Factors for Back Pain in Kids and Teens
The most common risk factors for back pain in children and teens include sports participation; obesity; a sedentary lifestyle; and a family history of lower back pain, smoking, and/or psychological stress. For example, children and teens with a positive family history of lower back pain are almost twice as likely to experience back pain in childhood or adolescence versus their counterparts with no relevant family history. Evidence suggests that those with lower back pain in childhood are at higher risk of developing lower back pain in adulthood.
School-age children who complain of back pain typically also have high levels of psychosocial difficulties, such as emotional distress and problems with behavior and/or everyday functions.
Typical Characteristics of Back Pain in Children and Adolescents
Depending on the underlying cause, pain may be restricted to a localized area of the back or may include the entire upper and/or lower back region. The common, benign causes of back pain in kids and teens generally have the following characteristics:
There may be limitations in carrying out daily activities, missed school days, and the reduction of or hesitancy in performing physical activity.
Types of Back Pain in Kids and Teens
Based on the underlying cause, a few types of back pain experienced by children may include 1 :
Night-time back pain in children and teens warrants immediate medical attention.
Backpacks and Back Pain
There is some evidence to suggest that heavy backpacks may cause back pain in children.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ most recent non-evidence-based guidelines recommend that the optimal weight of a child’s backpack may be restricted to 10% to 20% of the child’s body weight. Certainly if a child or teen complains about back pain after carrying their backpack, it is reasonable to try reducing the weight of the backpack, use a rolling pack, or explore other remedies.
Back Pain in Children and Adolescents Must Be Evaluated at the Earliest
Any complaint by a child or teenager about acute back pain or chronic back pain is taken seriously by pediatricians and is usually followed up with a detailed consultation that will include a review of the child’s medical history, an in-depth physical exam, and a psychological evaluation, if warranted.
If the medical history and physical examination suggest an underlying condition, a series of tests may be conducted. These tests typically include blood tests and radiographic imaging studies, with a possible referral to a specialist for further examination and diagnostic tests.
When Back Pain in Kids and Teens May Be Serious
Back pain, specifically severe pain in the lower back region in children under 10 years of age and particularly in those younger than 4 years, should be considered a red flag for serious underlying pathologies, which may include:
Spinal tumors and fractures may be associated with additional symptoms, such as fatigue, stiffness in the spine upon waking in the morning, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, and/or local tenderness on the spine. Night pain, pain that awakens the child from sleep, and pain at rest may be specific to tumors.
Mild to moderate back pain in kids and teens may occur due to a sudden, direct hit to the back or as a result of a fall (such as while playing on a playground or participating in sports), and usually resolves within a few days with self-care and/or over-the-counter medications. Persistent, progressive, and/or severe back pain may indicate a serious medical condition and it is advisable to get medical help right away.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Chronic vs. Acute Sports Injuries
in Chronic Pain, Sports Related InjuriesArticle featured on Summit Orthopedics
You may have heard the terms acute sports injury and chronic sports injury. But what is the difference between acute vs chronic sports injuries?
What is an acute sports injury?
Acute injuries happen in a single moment. In sports, they could be the result of a collision, abnormal twisting, landing wrong after a jump, or some other kind of traumatic injury.
In short, when you experience an acute injury during sports, you’ll know it. You may hear a “pop” or feel a tearing sensation, and it will generally be painful, with swelling, bruising, or deformity after the injury.
How do you diagnose and treat an acute sports injury?
Acute injuries should get evaluated urgently, within a week if not on the day of injury itself. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, but getting an X-ray and an evaluation right away is always a good idea. When the injury is acute, it’s important to get it treated quickly to make sure it heals properly.
If surgery is needed, we should do it quickly, so the bones and ligaments can be lined up right away. That gives the athlete the best chance of getting back to sports as soon as possible. Planning for a return to sports should be part of an athlete’s discussion with a sports medicine provider after an acute injury.
What about chronic sports injuries?
Many active and athletic people can relate to a long-term, nagging soreness or stiffness in the body whether it’s a baseball pitcher’s aching shoulder or a runner’s sore knees. These are the kinds of symptoms associated with chronic sports injuries.
Chronic injuries happen over time, generally with overuse. They happen when a joint, tendon, or other structure wears out over time. Examples include tendinitis and rotator cuff injuries with microtears that build up over years.
In sports, loading a joint or other structure the wrong way or with too much force for too long can lead to that structure getting too thin and eventually giving out. Our bodies are designed to withstand force, but if an athlete goes above and beyond that force threshold repetitively, it can set the stage for a chronic sports injury.
How are chronic sports injuries treated?
For chronic injuries, time is less of a component, because the injury is long term. With a chronic injury, we can try nonoperative treatments like physical therapy, RICE, and anti-inflammatories. Even if surgery is recommended, it doesn’t have to happen right away.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
What is Little League Elbow?
in Elbow Injuries, Sports Related InjuriesArticle featured on Nationwide Children’s
Little league elbow is a painful inflammation of the bony bump on the inside of the elbow.
This spot is the attachment site where the tendons of the muscles that bend your wrist and fingers are located.
What Causes Little League Elbow?
What Are the Symptoms of Little League Elbow?
What Can I Do to Feel Better?
When Should I See a Medical Professional?
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Tips to Maintain Athletic Performance
in General Orthopedics, Health & Wellness, Wellness TipsArticle featured on Coastal Orthopedics
In order to ensure you are performing at your peak performance it’s important to take care of your body. The following tips will help you get the most out of your fitness and keep you healthy for the days to come.
Get Sleep
Making sure you get plenty of sleep at night is essential in ensuring a healthy recovery from any physical activity or workout. Your muscles’ only time to recover is while you sleep. Seven to eight hours of sleep each night is the recommended amount of time to ensure your body is properly recovered, and you get the best workout the next day. If you are finding it difficult to get enough sleep at night, take a 20- to 30-minute nap after your workout, this can aid in recovery.
Try Cardio Outside
It is easy to get into a routine almost as easy as it is to get out of one. If you find yourself in the gym for every workout, we recommend exercising outside every so often. The possibilities are exciting; You can bike, sprint, or even rollerblade. Try the beach – attack the dunes! You will be amazed at the progress you make! Not only will you notice improvement, but the diversity will help in injury prevention.
Eat Right
We are sure you know about this one – but we had to touch on it. A proper diet will give you power on the field, in the gym, or on the track. Make sure your diet has the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals. Hydration is just as crucial as your diet because your body loses a lot of water during workouts. You need to drink more than eight 8-ounce glasses of water required for adults. Athletes should drink more water than average since they lose even more water from intense exercise. For intense workouts, it’s recommended that you should drink 16-20 ounces per pound of body weight lost during the workout.
Treat Your Injuries
When your body starts giving you warning signs, it’s important to listen. We know that this can be very frustrating, especially if you keep getting injuries. However, you need to back off until you get examined, and the injury is healed. Listening to your body is the best way to break the injury cycle.
Respect the Rest Day
After getting in the habit of exercising or working out almost every day, it can be hard to break it up and take a day off; in fact, it may seem counter-intuitive. Taking a day off is important as it allows for your body to repair itself and build back stronger. If you continually refuse to rest, you are only losing performance but putting yourself at a higher risk for injury
Pre and Post Stretching
It is recommended that athletes incorporate a stretch routine into workouts — even when you’re not preparing for a big event. Stretching your muscles regularly (before and after a workout) has many benefits that can help protect your musculoskeletal system and keep you performing at your best.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Treating Hand Arthritis Without Surgery
in Arthritis, Hand InjuriesArticle featured on American Society for Surgery of the Hand
What is arthritis?
A joint is where two or more bones meet each other. The ends of these bones are covered with a smooth substance called cartilage which allows the bones to slide past each other smoothly. This cartilage layer can be worn away with time or due to other things, and when this occurs the rough bone ends start to rub against each other. This is arthritis. Sometimes arthritis does not cause any problems, but sometimes it can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity.
What causes arthritis?
The most common causes of arthritis are different for different locations in the body. The normal arthritis that often comes along with age is called osteoarthritis. This is simply arthritis that occurs due to normal wear and tear on the body as we get older. Often this type of arthritis is partially hereditary, meaning that if your parents or grandparents had arthritis, you may be more likely to have it. Other things can cause arthritis as well. These include major joint injuries or infections, and certain medical conditions.
Just because you have arthritis doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a problem. Many people have arthritis that they don’t even know about. Arthritis only needs treatment if it bothers you or causes issues in the body.
My hand arthritis hurts! How can I treat it?
Once arthritis is present, it will always be there. This is because the body can’t regrow the type of cartilage found in the joints. But there is good news: just because arthritis is in the body doesn’t mean it will always cause pain or other issues. Even if arthritis causes pain, the pain may not be there all the time- it can often come and go. There are many things we can do to try to improve arthritis symptoms when they occur. Conservative management of arthritis- meaning treatment without surgery- is almost always the first step. There are many options to try. Usually these treatments work best when they are used all together over several weeks or months.
What if none of these treatments work to improve my arthritis pain?
There are surgeries that can help make hand arthritis pain better. However, most people with hand arthritis never need to move forward with surgery- this is a personal decision that should be made after discussion with a hand surgeon. The safest and best plan is usually to try to maximize all non-surgery treatments to make arthritis feel better. If none of these treatments give you good relief from your arthritis symptoms, see a hand surgeon to discuss whether a surgical procedure could benefit you.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
What Causes Neck Pain in Seniors?
in Health & Wellness, Neck Injuries, Neck PainArticle featured on MedicineNet
Understanding the anatomy of the neck
Most people will have neck pain at some point. Injuries and certain illnesses can cause neck pain, but the most common cause is holding your neck in the same position for a long time. More serious symptoms can come from changes in the upper spine that come with aging. These changes often cause neck pain in seniors.
The neck contains seven bones called vertebrae that enclose the spinal cord. Other nerves branch out from the spinal cord. Disks between the bones act as shock absorbers. They have a tough outer coating and a jellylike interior. Muscles and ligaments bind the vertebrae together, providing both flexibility and support. Injury to any of these parts can cause neck pain.
Pressure on the spinal cord in the neck can be serious because most of the nerves that serve the body pass through the neck. Problems in the neck can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms, chest, abdomen, or legs. Many organs rely on the nerves that pass through the neck for proper function.
What are the effects of neck pain?
Neck pain can affect your employment, social life, and personal relationships. When neck pain causes you to avoid certain activities, both your physical and mental health can suffer. Sometimes, it may seem that doctors and family members don’t believe that you are having real neck pain as you age. You may become angry, anxious, or depressed.
Neck pain can get worse through the pain cycle:
How is neck pain diagnosed?
A muscle spasm or sprain can cause neck pain. Doctors can often diagnose this type of neck pain with a physical examination. Doctors use X-rays to diagnose neck pain caused by arthritis. If your symptoms suggest nerve problems, doctors will often use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) to diagnose it.
What causes muscle pain in the neck?
Poor posture that results in muscle strain is a common cause of neck pain. You can prevent this type of neck pain by taking these steps:
You can treat muscular pain in the neck with over-the-counter pain relievers and with heat and cold. You may have to modify your activities for a while, but you should try to stay active.
What are the other causes of neck pain?
Many older people have osteoarthritis, which can cause neck pain. The joints of the neck are subject to wear and tear just like other joints in the body. In conjunction with this, aging can cause these three conditions:
Cervical spondylosis. This term covers the changes that occur in the neck with aging. Cartilage may wear away. Disks can become thin and dry so they don’t cushion the bones. Your body may try to compensate by growing extra bone in the form of bone spurs. These changes in the neck may cause pain from pinched nerves.
Cervical spinal stenosis. Changes in the neck cause the spinal canal to narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and other nerves. Besides neck pain, people with spinal stenosis often have symptoms in their extremities. They may have numbness, weakness, or poor coordination in the arms, legs, feet, and hands.
Disk problems. Changes in the disks between the vertebrae can cause neck pain. Disks that are squeezed between two of the bones in the neck can rupture. The disk may bulge out through the tear, a condition called herniated disk. Damaged disks can press on the nerves and even compress the spinal cord.
How is neck pain treated?
Treatments for neck pain can be nonsurgical or surgical.
Nonsurgical treatments include:
Doctors may suggest surgery, though, if more conservative treatments don’t help or if symptoms get worse. To be a candidate for surgery, you must be in good health.
The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.
Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.
Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.
If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.
Phone:
503-224-8399
Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209
Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm