Sunday, December 30, 2018

Back pain is a common issue around the world because of health, genetics, and environmental factors. Heavy use of the back throughout a working person's life is likely to cause strains, breaks, and wearing of the discs. Even an office worker may not seem at risk of such a problem, but in fact, could suffer from many of the same symptoms due to stress and sitting for long hours in an unnatural position. We also have a unique problem today that has slowly been rising in numbers, and that is the issue of obesity. Excess pounds on a bodies frame can cause extra pressure to be placed on all areas and joints of the body, including the spine. Eventually, this wear and stress will get to the person and can cause a recurring pain. While doctors can recommend fixes such as exercise, healthy diet, physical therapy, and medication, some of these issues may have gone beyond the point of repair to where the individual considers spinal fusion surgery Baltimore.

Weighing the Benefits of Spinal Fusion Surgery Baltimore

Spinal fusion is performed as a last resort after all other options have been tried. Surgery on any area of the body does pose risks, and the spine is no different, but a failed surgery could put an individual in bed for weeks, months, or even cripple the,m for life, so it isn't something that doctors recommend to consider lightly. The other issue with spinal fusion surgeries is that they are a one-time thing. If it does not fix the back pain, the bones will already have grown together and is irreversible for the most part. If unsuccessful in treating the condition it could unintentionally even cause more discomfort to the patient.  If successful though a spinal fusion can provide worlds of relief to those suffering from common ailments of the back.

Rubbing or worn away discs can be painful and will not grow back throughout the years. Instead, they will continue to disintegrate. For patients who are long-time sufferers of extreme scoliosis, back surgery can also be a life changer in straightening out their spine and allowing them to walk and even perform other day-to-day activities that they could not previously partake in. Although there are possible drawbacks, the benefits of spinal fusion Baltimore  make it hard not consider when dealing with back pain.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

When a Total hip Replacement Baltimore MD may be Needed

Arthritis is the swelling of the lining of the joints due to many different factors including normal aging, extra wear and tear, diseases, and other chronic illnesses. Roughly one in three people will suffer from arthritis with about a third of those also having it affect their hips. As these bones are a significant factor in keeping a person's body upright, performing everyday activities, and merely supporting body weight, it is essential that the hip is well taken care of as it ages. Hip arthritis is common and can be extremely painful because of the use this area of the body gets. Total hip replacement Baltimore MD has become the second most common major joint surgery, behind the knee, due to these factors.

Complications and Considerations of a Total hip Replacement Baltimore MD

Hip replacements have become common as the surgical techniques and replacement parts continue to improve. There are different methods for this type of procedure of which some are more extensive than others. A total hip replacement will take out and replace the entirety of the joint and the lining, or whatever is left. Once the inner cartilage wears away, the bones begin to rub against one another and can become very painful. This issue generally occurs in older persons, but can also happen to younger ones for various reasons. 


While hip replacement Baltimore surgeries and the materials used are much more efficient than they used to be, they do still wear out over time causing a possibly worse problem for the patient. Surgeries are often limited to extreme cases as a last resort for these reasons.

With medical advancements, hip replacements have become very successful, and patients are sometimes able to walk in as little as four to six weeks, although this is considered a quick recovery. Because it is also regarded as major surgery, patients must be dedicated to beginning physical therapy directly after an operation and realizing that full use of the hip may take some time, if it ever completely happens.

Complications must also be considered before undergoing such an intense procedure. Rejection of the replacement parts is always a possible issue. Because the surgery is often performed on older individuals, it may be challenging to consider if it is worth it for someone in their later years to bother with such an extensive procedure. For those suffering from daily discomfort, this may be the case though.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Choosing a Spinal Fusion Doctor Baltimore

Many individuals who have had traumatic injuries to their backs end up with unstable spines.  This can make life very difficult, causing chronic pain and significantly decreasing mobility.  A spinal fusion surgery Baltimore MD 
(https://www.medstarunionortho.org) may be the answer some of these individuals are seeking.  This procedure can be performed by an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon.  Choosing the right type of doctor for this procedure can be confusing.

What Kind of Spinal Fusion Doctor Baltimore MD?

First, it is important to understand that both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons may specialize in spine surgery.  A spinal fusion doctor Baltimore may be certified by either board.  A lot of experts believe that the future of spinal surgery will see it becoming its own specialization and having its own governing board.  Presently, though, this is not the case.  A surgeon who is certified with either the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery or the American Board of Neurological Surgery can be considered to have met the highest standards in their respective fields.

Many people think of neurosurgery as a synonym for brain surgery.  While it is true that this type of doctor does perform brain surgery, the majority of operations performed by neurosurgeons each year are spine surgeries. In very large medical systems, there will be neurosurgeons who specialize only in brain surgery or only in spine surgery.  In smaller to average sized hospital systems, they are likely to be doing both.  It is necessary for those performing spine surgeries to complete a 1-2 year residency after all of their other medical training is finished.

Orthopedic surgeons are trained during 4-5 year specialty programs.  During this time, they will be exposed to many spine surgeries--probably a much larger volume than most neurosurgeons.  However, the primary focus of many orthopedic surgery programs is sports medicine or joint replacement.  Therefore, orthopedic surgeons who wish to excel in spine surgery may undertake the same type of post-qualification residency as the neurosurgeon.
So, which is the better choice?  The answer to this question is somewhat based on the reason for the surgery in each individual case.  However, finding a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon who has completed more specific training in spinal surgery is preferable to either type of doctor who has not.

Monday, December 24, 2018

Working with Your Hip Replacement Doctor Baltimore

Most people having a total hip replacement surgery Baltimore have some expectations about what their lives might be like post-recovery.  It is natural to be hopeful that your life will be much like it was before your surgery, but with a lot less pain.  You might even be expecting to resume some of the work or leisure activities you haven't been able to do for a while because of mobility limitations.  On the other hand, some folks think that their artificial hip joint will cause them to have many permanent restrictions on the ability to move and bend normally.  The reality will be different for everyone, and usually falls somewhere in the the middle of the extreme positive and negative expectations.

How to Work with Your Hip Replacement Doctor

Patients who understand and follow their doctor's recommendations tend to have better outcomes than those who have less effective communication with their hip replacement doctor Baltimore.
  • Most hip replacement patients stay in the hospital for 3-4 days.  It is important to make the most of your hospital stay because you will not have a better opportunity to ask questions about your recovery and ask for adjustments to things like your adaptive equipment and pain control regimen.
  • While in the hospital, focus on basic activities like getting in and out of bed independently, eating and drinking, using the rest room, walking with an assistive device and learning your home exercise program.  If you feel you need additional support in any of these areas, there are plenty of people around to help at this time.
  • Work out a realistic discharge plan with your doctor before your surgery date arrives.  While it may be possible for you to be discharged to your home, a plan for you to get help with activities like shopping needs to be in place.  It will be a few weeks before you can drive.
  • Keep appointments with all the supportive services recommended by your doctor.  The physical therapist can help you learn ways to do pretty much everything you might enjoy in ways that will keep your new hip joint safe.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Risks of the Lumbar Laminectomy Baltimore MD

The lumbar laminectomy Baltimore MD is a surgery that is intended to relieve pain in the lower back, legs and feet by freeing nerves that are being pinched by the small bones in the spine, called vertebrae.  On the back of each of these small bones is a flat surface.  This is the lamina.  The laminectomy removes the lamina from one or more vertebrae in the lower back.  Usually, the lumbar laminectomy procedure Baltimore is considered to be elective.

 This means that it is an option chosen by the patient because pain medications, physical therapy, and other less radical interventions have failed to adequately relieve their distress.  While this is a relatively safe procedure, it is important to consider risks when choosing any elective surgery.

Lumbar Laminectomy Procedure Risks Baltimore MD

Orthopedic surgeries such as this one have become very safe over the last fifty years. The mortality rate for all of them combined much less than 1% of all US patients in any given year.  However, there are some more minor risks with this operation that are worth understanding.
  • Any operation in which the patient is fully sedated carries a risk from the anesthesia drugs.  It is impossible to predict who may react badly to general anesthesia.  Bad outcomes sometimes occur even with those who have been successfully anesthetized in the past.  Those with heart problems and similar pre-existing health issues are at a greater risk.
  • Excessive bleeding is a possible complication of any open surgical procedure.  It is important for the surgical team to be aware of all medications the patient takes so that adjustments can be made to any that cause thinning of the blood.
  • While the purpose of the lumbar laminectomy Baltimore MD procedure is to free compressed nerve structures, there is always a chance of permanent nerve damage anytime the surgeon is working close to the spinal cord.  The physical effects of this damage might include increased pain in the back and legs, or numbness that interferes with function.
  • The biggest risk of any back surgery is clinical failure.  This simply means that after fully recovering, the patient has not achieved relief from their pain.

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Hip replacement Baltimore is a process

What does hip replacement Baltimore mean for patients?

Some surgeries are meant to correct immediate and “surprise” issues that can impact the overall function of the body. These include emergencies like broken bones, burns, inflamed organs or even dental work that otherwise would cause patients issues. These things have to be decided upon very quickly, giving people very little time to adjust to respond. In other cases, patients will have a great deal more time to prepare themselves for the procedures. For surgeries like this, which are considered elective surgeries, patients can look into the procedures, their options and the medical professionals that will perform each service. A hip replacement Baltimore is one of these elective surgeries - at least in the majority of cases.

Hip replacement Baltimore is a procedure that is used to remove a damaged and troublesome natural hip joint from the body, replacing it with an artificial one that is meant to last for decades. The hip is one of the most used joints in the body, making it a lot more likely to break down over time than one that is used a lot less… but this also means that when degradation occurs, it can have a huge impact on a person’s life.

Getting hip surgery Baltimore is recommended for patients that have tried other options like physical therapy or injections but have not gotten the results that they’d hoped for. In some cases, medication use can be enough to keep the pain at bay, but this won’t make it possible for people to stick to a routine in every case. There is only so much that can be done to save a failing joint, which makes the likelihood of needing a replacement at some point much more probable.

Hip replacement surgery Baltimore is a solution to a problem that patients are rarely in control of. People cannot always prevent the wearing down of their bodies, no matter how otherwise healthy they might be. The hip replacement surgery will require downtime spent healing, but after this has been done, it should be smooth sailing. Yes, it is important to remember that an artificial hip won’t ever be as strong or stable as a natural hip (there will be limitations to the angle that the hip can bend at, people will need to be careful with the way that they move in order to keep it from potentially dislocating), but it’s going to improve the lives of patients a great deal - and for that alone, it’s worth seeking out more information.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Questions to ask a knee replacement doctor Baltimore

1. How many knee replacement surgeries have you done throughout your career?
2. Do you work out of any other medical facilities, or is there only one?
3. What types of alternatives are there to surgery?
4. What is the best option for my personal situation?
5. Will I need to do a great deal of aftercare or rehabilitation?
6. What is the surgery going to entail?
7. What I the recovery from a total knee replacement surgery like?
8. Will the replacement kneecap and knee joint last the rest of my life?
9. Can I prepare for the surgery in any specific way?
All of these options are great when it comes to questioning a knee replacement doctor Baltimore, but some patients won’t need to ask all of them… and others will find that there are more questions that they think of as time passes.

A total knee replacement surgery is a procedure that can be damaging to a person’s motivation, but in the long run, it can also be a great asset. Though there will need to be a few months taken in order to recover properly, this time can be spent planning for the future and slowly but surely working out a plan.

A knee surgery procedure will mean that the range of motion of the knee joint is very limited as it heals, but the doctors, nurses and physical therapists can help to ensure that this time doesn’t drag out. The more you are dedicated to the recovery, the easier it will be. Although there isn’t a set schedule for all recovery timelines, the general idea is the same, so you’ll know what to expect - and can make note of any deviations from the plan.

A knee replacement doctor Baltimore is a patient advocate

Not only should these medical professionals be able to perform the surgical procedures, but they can also provide information and point patients toward others that can help them as well. Each surgeon will have the patient in mind at all times and create a treatment plan that will adequately address all necessary issues; in some cases, surgery won’t be needed right away, but in order to determine this, more patient specific information will be needed.
To find a potential doctor to consult with, visit https://www.medstarunionortho.org!