Health Articles

Each of the following health articles was authored by one of our expert orthopedic doctors at Orthopedic Associates. Please use the Learn More button to read the article in full.

Who Needs Spine Fusion?

When it comes to persistent back pain caused by conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or herniated discs, spine fusion is a surgical option that can provide much-needed relief.

What You Need to Know About Sciatica

Over time, our bodies can undergo changes due to various factors. One common phenomenon is the development of sciatica, a condition resulting from injury or pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Making Spine Surgery Minimally Invasive

Minimally invasive spine procedures offer a diverse range of options for individuals seeking relief from pain.

What Are Overuse Injuries?

While acute injuries like wrist fractures, ankle sprains, shoulder dislocations, and hamstring strains typically result from a single traumatic event, overuse injuries develop gradually and are more subtle.

Taking On an Achilles Tendon Rupture

As the body's largest tendon, the Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in walking, running, and jumping. However, when the tendon stretches beyond its limit, it can rupture, resulting in a partial or complete tear.

ACL Injuries: A Concern for Female Athletes

A troubling trend is emerging on playing fields and basketball courts—young girls leaping or changing direction, only to crumble in agonizing pain.

Don’t Let Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome Stop Your Swing

The ulnar nerve is one of the main nerves in your hand that provides feeling and helps with function.

What Is Dupuytren’s Contracture?

Dupuytren’s disease is a common and benign condition of the palm and fingers where the fibrous tissue underneath the skin tightens and thickens.

3 Ways to Prevent Gaming Injuries

Because of the nature of gaming systems and computer use, gaming-related injuries are typically overuse injuries, like trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendinitis.

Dos & Don’ts After Total Joint Replacement

After having a joint replacement, you may expect to be able to return to the lifestyle you had before surgery, but this can take some time.

5 Ways to Save Your Joints

There are many keys to keeping your joints healthy. This means making sure that your joints maintain their full range of motion while also limiting wear and tear on your joint tissues.

To defend your joints, it is beneficial to:

Same-Day Joint Replacement

Your joints can take on a lot of damage throughout your life, leading to degenerative conditions, like osteoarthritis. Joint replacement is often the recommended solution for the pain and limited mobility associated with these conditions.

Emergency Room Vs. Orthopedic Urgent Care

Injuries are not scheduled and tend to occur when you least expect them. When you or your loved one suffers an injury, you want the best care available as soon as possible. In some cases, that means a trip to the emergency room.

MCL Tears Vs. ACL Tears

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is along the inside of your knee, while the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is deep within the center of your knee.

Avoid the Post-Pickleball Pickle

Pickleball is a great way to stay active and have plenty of fun, but as with any sport, it does come with a risk of injury. Even a casual pickleball player could be vulnerable to a number of wrist, ankle, shoulder, and knee problems.

Fusion Vs. Disc Replacement: What You Need to Know

Wear and tear on the discs between your spinal bones, or vertebrae, is known as degenerative disc disease. Common conditions caused by disc degeneration, as well as slipped discs, include spondylotic myelopathy and stenosis.

The Big Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

If you are suffering from back or neck pain and are in need of surgery, minimally invasive surgery may be an option to consider. Minimally invasive spinal surgeries offer many benefits, such as smaller incisions and less muscle invasion.

Get Active to Fight Back Aches

While refraining from strenuous activities to relieve back pain might be the answer in the short term, when done for more than a few days, it can actually undermine healing.

Tennis Elbow and Treatment Options

While a large percentage of tennis players will suffer from tennis elbow at some point in their career, they only make up a small percentage of all reported cases of tennis elbow.

What to Expect With a Wrist Fusion

A wrist fusion involves joining bones of the wrist together to help improve their alignment. Typically, this surgery is performed as a treatment for arthritis in the wrist.