Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD for Fractures and Arthritis

A damaged hip joint can make everyday activities such as walking difficult.  Two common causes of damage to a hip joint are a hip fracture and arthritis.  Often, a total hip replacement Baltimore MD is needed to provide relief.

Total hip replacement Baltimore MD to treat fractures

Your hip is a ball and socket joint.  A hip fracture is when there is a break in the bone that has the “ball” part of the joint, called the femur.  The majority of hip fractures happen in people who are over age 60 and falls are the most common cause.  Overtime, bones become thinner and weaker from calcium loss (called osteoporosis) and that is often a factor in hip fractures.  Symptoms of a hip fracture that may need total hip replacement surgery Baltimore include: hip pain, low back pain, inability to stand or walk, and bruising and swelling.

If the fracture is 3-4 inches away from the joint, it will most likely be treated with surgery that places metal devices at the break to stabilize and strengthen the joint.  Hip fractures that are closer to the joint sometimes need hip replacement surgery Baltimore.

Arthritis can require hip surgery Baltimore

The most common type of arthritis to affect the hips is osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that causes the breakdown of cartilage.  Symptoms of osteoarthritis that may need hip replacement surgery Baltimore include pain and limited range of motion in the hips.  Before doing hip surgery Baltimore, your doctor will try to treat osteoarthritis of the hip with medicine, physical therapy, and assistive devices.

Total hip replacement surgery Baltimore

A hip fracture or arthritis in the hip that cannot be treated with other methods may need hip replacement surgery Baltimore.   During this procedure, your total hip replacement doctor Baltimore removes the damaged parts of your joint and replaces them with a prosthesis.  After the 3-6 month recovery time, most people have more movement and less pain in their hip.  The artificial joints usually last 15 or more years, but you will have to be careful to avoid falls and other activities that may injure the joint.

Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD for a Stronger Back

Spinal fusion Baltimore MD is a procedure that permanently joins 2 or more vertebrae.  This limits motion between vertebrae and can provide support for the back and relief from symptoms of several different back conditions.

Conditions treated by a spinal fusion doctor Baltimore

Conditions that are sometimes treated with spinal fusion surgery Baltimore can include:

• Fractured vertebrae: This usually happens from a fall or other trauma and is more common in those who have osteoporosis.
• Scoliosis: A normal spine appears straight when viewed from the back.  Scoliosis is when the spine has a curve when viewed from the back.
• Bulging or herniated disc: The cartilage between vertebrae can sometimes bulge, pinching nerves.
• Arthritis: This chronic joint disease causes the breakdown of cartilage.

Before spinal surgery Baltimore

Your spinal fusion doctor Baltimore will diagnose your back condition with physical exams and imaging tests.  If the condition is not too severe, he or she may try other treatments before spinal fusion surgery Baltimore.  These can include:

• Medication: Anti-inflammatories can reduce swelling, sometimes relieving pressure on nerves.  Anti-biotics can help if there is an infection causing the symptoms.  Pain relievers are also often used.
• Assistive devices: Walkers, braces, or other assistive devices may help provide relief.
• Activity limitations: If certain activities make your symptoms worse, you may have to avoid them.

Spinal fusion Baltimore MD

During your spinal fusion surgery Baltimore, bone grafts are placed around the vertebrae.  Your spinal fusion doctor Baltimore usually takes the bone from your pelvis, but sometimes artificial bone is used.  The bone connects adjacent vertebrae and promotes bone growth.  This bone growth will take several months and will continue to evolve for years.  Your spinal fusion doctor Baltimore will place metal implants around the spinal fusion to provide stability while the bone grows.

Spinal fusion recovery Baltimore

You will need to spend several days in the hospital for your spinal fusion Baltimore.  It will take about 6 weeks for the bones to begin to fuse, and it will be several months until the fusion is solid.  You will have activity restrictions during your spinal fusion recovery Baltimore, and you should discuss these with your doctor before your procedure so you can plan ahead.

Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD Recovery

Total hip replacement Baltimore MD can provide relief from hip pain, but for the best results it is important that you follow all of your doctor’s instructions for recovery.

Hip surgery Baltimore requires hospital stay

Hip replacement Baltimore usually requires a 3-5 day hospital stay.  The procedure is done under general anesthesia, and you may still be very tired when you wake up.  As soon as you are fully awake and your pain is controlled, you may be asked to start moving your hip joint to begin building strength and mobility.  Your doctor will most likely recommend that you do not drive for several weeks after your hip surgery Baltimore, so arrange ahead of time for someone to drive you home from the hospital.

Medication after total hip replacement Baltimore MD

You will be given pain medication while you are in the hospital and more pain medicines will be prescribed to you when you go home.  Depending on your circumstances, you may also be prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine or anti-biotics.  Blood clots are sometimes a risk after hip replacement Baltimore, so you may also be prescribed blood thinners.  It is important that you take these medicines exactly as directed after your hip surgery Baltimore.

Early recovery from hip surgery Baltimore

You may have trouble moving in the weeks immediately after your hip replacement Baltimore, so if possible you should arrange for someone to help you around the house.  Your doctor and physical therapist will give you a list of specific activities that are helpful and specific activities that may be harmful after your hip surgery Baltimore.  The prescribed helpful exercises are vital for building strength.  Movements that should be avoided after hip surgery Baltimore include:

• Bending your hip more than 90 degrees

• Twisting your hip

• Swiveling on the ball of your foot

• Crossing your legs over each other

• Sitting on low chairs and toilet seats

After full recovery from hip replacement Baltimore

Full recovery usually takes 3-6 months.  Many people who are in good overall health and have been working to strengthen their hip joint can return to low-impact physical activities such as biking, walking, and swimming after hip replacement Baltimore.  You may have to avoid high-impact activities such as football, volleyball, and basketball because these can damage the artificial joint.

Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD for Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal narrows and pinches nerves.  It is sometimes treated with non-surgical methods such as physical therapy and injections, but sometimes spinal fusion Baltimore MD is necessary.

Spinal stenosis

People over the age of 50 are at a higher risk for spinal stenosis because aging can cause the ligaments in the spine to become thick and calcified, narrowing the spinal canal.  Spinal fusion surgery Baltimore to correct spinal stenosis also sometimes needs to be done due to the breakdown of cartilage discs that cushion the vertebrae and bone spurs (growths that form on the bones).

Symptoms of spinal stenosis that may need spinal fusion surgery Baltimore can include:

• Difficulty walking
• Clumsiness or frequent falls
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
• Leg pain
• Back pain that lessens when you lean forward

Before spinal fusion Baltimore MD

Before spinal fusion surgery Baltimore, your doctor will most likely try non-surgical treatments that can include:

• Posture changes: Slouching or stooping can strain the ligaments in your back.
• Physical therapy: This can help strengthen back muscles so the spine is better supported.
• Medicine: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can help relieve symptoms.
• Spinal injections: A steroid injection directly into the spinal canal is sometimes necessary.

Spinal fusion surgery Baltimore

If non-surgical treatments do not provide significant results, you may need spinal fusion surgery Baltimore.  Spinal fusion surgery Baltimore is a procedure to permanently attach 2 or more vertebrae to prevent them from moving.  An incision is made at the affected part of the spine, and your surgeon will use tiny tools to remove damaged discs.  He or she will then use a piece of bone (usually taken from the hip) and use that to fuse the vertebrae together.  Sometimes in spinal fusion surgery Baltimore, an artificial bone-like substance will be used instead of real bone.  Often, special screws and roads are attached to the spine to provide stability while the fusion of small back bones Baltimore is healing.  Full recovery after spinal fusion surgery Baltimore can take several months and may include a rehab program and special exercises.  You can learn more about spinal fusion surgery Baltimore at www.medstarunionortho.org.

Posterior Lumbar Fusion Baltimore MD and Protecting your Back

When the spongy discs that cushion the vertebrae of your spine become damaged, the vertebrae can grind against each other causing serious pain, numbness, and weakness.  The damage to discs is usually caused by aging and normal wear and tear.  Severe cases can be treated with a posterior lumbar fusion Baltimore MD, but you can limit damage to your back by taking care to use body mechanics that protect your back every day.

Proper lifting to prevent need for spinal fusion Baltimore

Lifting is a common cause of back injury and regularly doing it incorrectly can lead to the need for spinal fusion surgery Baltimore.  To limit your risk, follow these guidelines for proper lifting:

• Face the object you need to lift, do not twist.
• Lower yourself to the floor with your back straight.
• Keep the object close to your body.
• When you set the load down, bend your knees to lower it rather than bending at the waist.

Protecting your back at night

You can even help protect your back and possibly limit your risk for spinal fusion surgery Baltimore while you are laying in bed.  The muscles and ligaments in your back relax while you are sleeping, so make sure that you choose a mattress that provides support for the natural curve of your spine and consider replacing it every 10 years.  Your pillow should support the natural curve of your neck.  A pillow that is too high can strain your back and overtime may cause damage that needs spinal fusion Baltimore.  Regardless of whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach; try to keep your ears, shoulders, and hips aligned to reduce stress on your back.

Posterior lumbar fusion Baltimore MD

Taking care to protect your back everyday can lower your risk, but there is no sure way to completely prevent damage to your back.  Injury, disease such as arthritis, or normal wear and tear may still damage the cushioning discs in your back, allowing your vertebrae to move against each other painfully.  Spinal fusion surgery Baltimore can permanently join 2 or more bones in your back, preventing movement.  After spinal fusion Baltimore, it is especially important to take steps to protect your back to prevent further damage.  Learn more about spinal fusion Baltimore at https://www.medstarunionortho.org/treatments/back/posterior-lumbar-fusion/.

Lumbar Laminectomy Baltimore MD Treats Damaged Disc

Your spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae that are separated by discs for cushioning and support.  If these discs become damaged, a procedure called a lumbar laminectomy Baltimore MD may be necessary.

Symptoms treated by a lumbar laminectomy Baltimore MD

Discs can be damaged due to injury, but most often it is the result of aging and normal breakdown.  If the disc loses fluid and becomes dried out, it can become compressed.  This pressure leads to the break down of the outer ring of the disc, which can allow the soft inner part to bulge, called a bulging disk.   A herniated disc is when the disc continues to break down, allowing the inner nucleus to rupture out from the center of the disc.  Symptoms of a bulging or herniated disc that may need lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore include pain, numbness, and tingling.  These symptoms usually come from nerve pressure, so where in the body the symptoms are felt can depend on which nerves are affected.

Other treatments

If the symptoms are mild, it is likely that your doctor will try other treatments before a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore.  These treatments can include limiting activities that make the symptoms worse and physical therapy.  Other treatments that are often attempted before a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore include medicines.  These can be medicines to relieve pain, anti-inflammatory medicines, and muscle relaxants.

Lumbar laminectomy and disectomy Baltimore

If the symptoms are severe and other treatments have not helped, you may need a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore.  During a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore, your doctor accesses your spinal column by making an incision and spreading the back muscles.  He or she will use tiny tools during a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore to remove as much of the damaged disc as possible.

Lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore

Lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore often requires a few days in the hospital.  Full lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore can take several weeks and your doctor will require follow up appointments before you can be cleared for too much physical activity.  Visit www.medstarunionortho.org to learn more about lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore.

Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD for Different Conditions

Spinal fusion Baltimore MD is a procedure that attaches 2 or more vertebrae together to prevent them from moving.  It can be used to treat many conditions, such as arthritis, scoliosis, and a herniated disc.

Spinal fusion Baltimore for arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes pain and swelling in joins and connective tissue.  The most common type of arthritis to affect the back and require the fusion of small back bones Baltimore is osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions joints.  It is usually caused by age and normal and wear and tear.  Symptoms of osteoarthritis that may need spinal fusion surgery Baltimore include back pain, stiffness in the back, and a crunching feeling in the back.  Spinal fusion surgery Baltimore can help because once the vertebrae are attached, they no longer grind on each other.

Scoliosis and spinal fusion Baltimore

A normal spine is straight when viewed from behind.  Scoliosis is when a spine appears to have a curve when viewed from the back.  Symptoms can include asymmetry in the body such as hips or shoulders that are not level and arms that hang differently.  If the curve is not severe, treatment will include monitoring to ensure that it is not getting worse.  If the curve is more than 45 degrees or appears to be getting worse, the fusion of small back bones Baltimore may help prevent further curving and deformity.  During spinal fusion surgery Baltimore for scoliosis, bones in the curved area of the spine will be attached.  Often, spinal fusion surgery Baltimore will include special hardware such as screws and rods to give stability and prevent the curve from getting worse.

Spinal fusion surgery for a herniated disc

A herniated disc is when the breakdown of the hard outer part of a disc allows the softer inner part to bulge out.  Often, a bulging disk will press on nerves in your spine, causing pain, tingling, weakness, or numbness.  A procedure called a lumbar laminectomy Baltimore can be done to remove the disc, and often this needs to be followed with spinal fusion surgery Baltimore.  Once the disc is removed, spinal fusion surgery Baltimore is often needed to prevent the vertebrae from grinding.