By: Dr. Paracha If you’ve ever had a sharp pain radiate from your pelvis and run down the back of your legs, you’ve likely been made aware of your sciatic nerve. This nerve, the largest one in the human body, roots in the lumbar spinal cord in the lower back and passes through the buttock area. It sends nerve endings down the lower limbs, all the way down to the ankle and foot. Sciatica refers to pain in this nerve, which is a very common thing to experience. Although the symptoms can be painful and potentially incapacitating, permanent nerve damage rarely occurs. Symptoms Sciatica can cause more than just pain. You might experience tingling or numbness caused by an irritation of the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve. Weakness in the legs or feet may also occur. These symptoms will manifest after sitting or standing for a long time. Symptoms may worsen from movements that cause the spine to flex (like exercises that bring your knees to your chest). Relief may be found by walking, lying down and spine-extending movements, ...

Gingerbread houses, work parties and Aunt Ethel’s rum cake—seasonal delights abound in December, creating a winter wonderland of temptation. In any holiday season, it’s easy to get swept up in holiday parties, shopping and eating and let your good health habits from the rest of the year fall by the wayside. But with a few simple strategies, you can incorporate healthy choices into your celebrations and start the New Year off in better shape than you might expect. Here are five tips for integrating some smart choices into your merrymaking. 1. Bundle Up and Get OutdoorsEven if you belong to a gym, fitting in a workout in December can be a difficult task with your busy schedule. Instead of sticking to your same old routine, switch things up and get social with your workouts. Bundle up and take the family to enjoy some winter activities like ice skating, skiing and tubing. Not up to strenuous activity? Finish your holiday shopping and take a long walk in the mall. Prefer to stay indoors? Get in some cardio while trimming the ...

By: Dr. Burke  Arthritis pain can present itself in many ways: as a dull ache, a burning feeling, a sharp pain or a pressure that feels like there’s a vice grip on your joints. Either way, it’s an ongoing challenge to manage pain from arthritis, which is the leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 52.5 million adults have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. There’s plenty of information out there about pain remedies, exercise and medication, so how do you know what’s right for you? Causes First, let’s take a look at what causes arthritis pain. The term itself can describe more than 200 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, including osteoporosis and diseases of the connective tissues. There isn’t a single type of arthritis, so the causes can include: Injury that leads to degenerative arthritis Abnormal metabolism that leads to gout and pseudo gout ...

By: Dr. Aaranson Diabetes is commonly perceived as a single illness, but it is actually a group of metabolic disorders that can cause many problems. It is either caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin (Type 1), or the body’s cells not responding properly to the insulin that is produced (Type 2). A third form, gestational diabetes, only occurs when a pregnant woman develops high blood sugar levels. The most common type of diabetes is Type 2, which accounts for about 90% of the 415 million cases worldwide. Many people find the variety and widespread nature of diabetes-related symptoms to be surprising. Everything from respiratory and urinary issues, as well as blurred vision and gastric distress are all symptoms of diabetes. One of the more common symptoms associated with diabetes is the presence of foot problems. Why the Issue? For people with diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, can cause tenderness and interfere with the ability to feel pain and temperature—a dangerous combination. If left untreated and unchecked, these foot problems can result in ulcers or injuries that can become infected. If ...

By: Dr. Burke “A storm’s a-comin’. I can feel it in my bones!” You’ve probably heard someone say those same words and it may sound like an old wives’ tale. The reality is there may be some truth to your bones telegraphing when a change in weather is on its way. Barometric pressure shifts with different weather fronts and the fluctuation in pressure has a direct impact on joints and bone. Bones or joints that have experienced a major injury or surgery can be the first place your body experiences change in barometric pressure. It may be why old football injuries ache and your bum knee may not be up for taking the stairs. When the environment is hotter, our muscles tend to be more relaxed and inclined to move well. When the temperature cools, it triggers our muscles and joints to contract more and limit motion as part of our built-in ‘survival’ mode. Some scientists and healthcare leaders hypothesize that headaches and migraines may be early signs of inclement weather. It’s believed that people who suffer from arthritis notice an increasing level ...

By: Dr. Ryan Pitts Doctors often want to know the extent and severity of an injury or condition without undergoing the risk of invasive surgery. Patients who suffer from hip injuries are at a higher risk of further health complications due to their condition. This is where hip arthroscopy proves its greatest value. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, hip arthroscopy is a “surgical procedure that allows doctors to view the hip joint without making a large incision (cut) through the skin and other soft tissues.” (AAOS) The surgeon inserts a small camera called an arthroscope into the hip region and takes pictures. Any necessary incisions will be miniscule compared to the full incision required for a more invasive inspection of the joint area. Hip arthroscopy is not as widely used as knee and shoulder arthroscopy, but it is nevertheless still effective. Surgeons often use hip arthroscopy to identify smaller problem areas and conduct minor procedures. Some surgeries that are often conducted during hip arthroscopy include the following, among others: Repairing torn cartilage ...

By: Dr. Burke Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day. I understand, it’s a Hallmark holiday for many people, but there’s no question, our orthopedic specialists have love on their radar this year. No, it’s not romantic love, but it’s the love we have for our patients. Here are a few things our orthopedic specialists would love for Valentine’s Day this year: We would love for everyone to do the right types and amounts of stretches before and after exercising. Asking your muscles to do any type of strenuous exercise without warming up is like doing a math test right after your alarm clock goes off. You probably won’t do your best and your muscles don’t do their best without waking up first. Show your muscles some love and give them a good stretch before and after exercising. We would love for you to use an exercise partner at the gym, especially if you will be lifting heavy weights. Know your ...

By: Dr. Randal Aaranson The winter cold can have a devastating effect on your skin, especially sub-freezing wind chill. Frostbite is essentially the freezing of skin and tissue and can occur within a matter of minutes. Frostbite typically affects the skin and tissue of exposed areas, such as your nose, cheeks, ears, hands, and feet. One of the common misconceptions is that frostbite only affects exposed skin. Even covered extremities, such as hands and feet, can be at risk of developing frostbite because of the relative temperature under gloves and shoes. Can you get frostbite in St. Louis? You may wonder, “Doesn’t frostbite only occur in extremely cold places, like the Dakotas and Canada?” Unfortunately, the risk of frostbite can be present in any sub-freezing temperatures. St. Louis’ winter wind chill temperatures often register at below the freezing point. A 10- to 15-minute walk to the train station without the proper winter clothing can put anyone at risk for developing first-stage frostbite, a condition called frostnip. Symptoms of frostbite Since frostbite is the freezing of tissue, the initial symptoms are pain and tingling sensations ...

By: Dr. Richard Hulsey Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 27 million U.S. adults suffer from some extent of osteoarthritis. (CDC) The aches, discomfort, and limited motion caused by osteoarthritis is enough to force a talented supervisor to stop working. It can cause an otherwise healthy grandmother think twice before picking her grandbaby. It can also leave many aging adults in a vulnerable position when it comes to potential injury. While you may know osteoarthritis by name, you may not know how devastating it may be on your future livelihood: If you suffered a significant knee injury in your youth, you are six times more likely to develop osteoarthritis in the injured joint by age 65. If you suffered a hip injury, the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the injured hip region is three times more likely. (HealthCentral) Did you know that osteoarthritis costs the U.S. economy over $86 billion every year? ...

By: Dr. Aaranson   Labor Day Weekend is the kickstart of race season across the Lou. Donning your favorite pair of ‘go fasters’ and pinning on a race bib is as familiar to St. Louis as October baseball. Whether you’re a ‘Fun Run’ enthusiast or a more focused 5k or 10k warrior, there are plenty of races in all sorts of places to enjoy this fall. Here is a list of some of the more featured fun runs, mini-marathons, and half-marathons happening in St. Louis over the next few months. Saturday, September 24th @ 9:00 a.m. | St. Jude to End Childhood Cancer Walk/Run 5K (Downtown St. Louis) St. Jude’s work with battling childhood cancer is reason enough to lace up your shoes and donate to their research. Treatments invented at St. Jude have changed the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since opening in 1962. The St. Jude to End Childhood Cancer Walk/Run 5K starts at Ballpark Village on Saturday, September 24th at 9:00 a.m. Click this link to register for the St. Jude ...