This article outlines how it was discovered that botox injections, most commonly used as a treatment to reduce wrinkles, could help reduce neck and shoulder pain, especially in those people for whom traditional treatments have failed.

Although only tested on a small number of people, the results look promising but, as Dr. Robert Duarte from the Pain Center at the Cushing Neuroscience Institute in Great Neck NY says “more studies are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of botox injections in patients with chronic cervical conditions.”

Botox Shows Promise Against Persistent Neck, Shoulder Pain …

www.somersortho.com10/13/12

SATURDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) — Botox injections, long used to smooth away wrinkles, might also soothe chronic neck and shoulder muscle pain, new research suggests. This type of persistent pain “is a common …

 The following video outlines one man’s journey from suffering from chronic neck pain through to having surgery and finally to having Botox injections to help relieve the pain and discomfort.  It shows that the potential of using Botox as a treatment for neck muscular pain is very positive.

Dystonia and Botox – My Journey

In September 2006 I started developing a painful condition in my neck. It began twisting in 3 directions, with painful muscle spasms. Finally in June 2008 I was diagnosed with Spasmodic Torticollis, also known as Cervical (neck) Dystonia. This video …

www.somersortho.com10/13/12

SATURDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) — Botox injections, long used to smooth away wrinkles, might also soothe chronic neck and shoulder muscle pain, new research suggests. This type of persistent pain “is a common …

Technorati Tags: botox, chronic pain, dystonia, neck pain botox

Being a highly specialized area, a typical orthopedic surgeon will spend up to 14 years of formal education to get the necessary qualifications.  In addition he or she will be expected to spend a great deal of time in updating skills and knowledge in addition to the 14 years of formal education to keep up to date with new trends and ideas.

It is quite common for a orthopedists to specialize in a particular type of injury or part of the body such as the hands, feet, knees or hips.

In the past orthopedists were mainly involved in treating crippled children.  However, this has now changed and covers the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders in people from all age groups.

These days we often hear about joint replacement surgery.  This is very common treatment performed by orthopedic surgeons but there is a wide range of other conditions and injuries that come under their expertise.  These include such things as sports injuries like cruciate ligament repair, pulled muscles, broken bones, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and some spinal injuries. Some specialize in problems associated with growth and development of children.  Things like scoliosis and limb length problems as well as fractures and sprains and the like that children may suffer while still in their growing and developmental stages.

Some of the work of an orthopedic surgeon may also extend to physical therapy, the prescribing of medications to treat diseases like osteoarthritis and injuries like sprains and strains.  In addition they often work with and advise physical therapists on treatments of certain conditions.

Broadly speaking the role of an orthopedic surgeon could be summarized as covering four main areas.  These are:

•    diagnosis of the injury or condition
•    putting together a treatment plan that might include medication, exercise or as a last resort, surgery.
•    Rehabilitation which could include physical therapy or exercises with the aim of restoring strength and function.
•    Prevention are supplying information and recommendations to prevent injury or slow the advancement of disease.

I can personally attest to the value of orthopedic surgeons after having recently been referred to one following breaking my ankle.  With his expertise in treating the fracture and in putting together a rehabilitation plan to strengthen and get the joints moving properly, my ankle healed beautifully and I have had no subsequent problems.  I can only imagine how someone must feel if they’ve had a major joint replaced that may have dramatically changed their life and all because of the expertise of their orthopedic surgeon.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8niQ9HMyRw

Orthopedic surgery has been dominated by males. However, with the advent of new techniques and equipment, more women are taking their rightful places in the field of orthpedics. Find out why more women are taking on orthopedics as a career in medicine.

Orthopedic Surgery: Women on the Rise in a Male-Dominated Field

"Men have always dominated orthopedic surgery. In fact, orthopedics has the lowest percentage of women in a surgical specialty, with only 4.3 percent of board-certified orthopedic surgeons being female. People used to attribute the field's gender disparity to the physical force required to maneuver fractured or dislocated bones and joints back into place. …"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mary-i-oconnor/orthopedic-surgery-women_b_1726145.html

Ever wondered what goes on in an orthopedics deartment in a hospital. The video below briefly shows a day in the Orthopedics Department of Boston Childrens Hospital.  It's worth the watch.

At the bottom of this post is a great video that goes into runner’s knee in detail but first, let’s go over briefly what this condition is.

Although it sounds like a specific knee problem, runner’s knee is, in fact, a general term that covers several knee conditions that result from varying causes.  Diagnosis of runner’s knee is not a simple matter and should be carried out by a professional.

CAUSES OF RUNNER”S KNEE

The main causes of this condition are:

• Injury – if the knee is knocked or hit directly
• Foot problems – overpronation (flat feet or fallen arches)
• Overuse
• Muscle weakness

SYMPTOMS of RUNNER’S KNEE:

• Pain when the knee is bent
• Walking downhill or down stairs intensifies the pain
• Swelling around the knee joint
• Pain in the vicinity of the kneecap, sometimes from behind the kneecap
• When the knee is bent, there is a sensation of grinding or popping in the knee.

TREATMENT FOR RUNNER’S KNEE

There are several treatments for this condition ranging from rest to strengthening exercises to taking anti-inflammatory drugs.

Here is an excellent video that goes into detail about what runner’s knee is and explain some of the treatments for it.  It’s a long video (about 22 minutes) but if yuou are suffering from knee pain and suspect runner’s knee then I highly recommend watching it.  I hope it helps. It certainly answered a few of my questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlWJmvNG0hI

Often called degenerative joint disease, arthritis in the knee is caused by the wearing away of the knee joint cartilage leaving bare bone which becomes painful and inflamed.
Arthritis is common in both males and females and is not limited to particular socioeconomic groups or geographical areas.

SYMPTOMS OF KNEE ARTHRITIS

Common symptoms of arthritis of the knee are reduced range of motion, swelling of the knee, sometimes joint deformity and of-course pain, especially when the knee is being used.

To get proper diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, your doctor will usually refer you to a specialist called a rheumatologist.  This specialist will conduct a thorough physical examination of the knee joint concerned.  In addition he will also question you about any family history or arthritis, the symptoms you are experiencing and your past medical history.  He may also require blood tests to get a clear picture of the problem.

When thoroughly assessed, your rheumatologist will be able to suggest the best treatment.  The primary aim is to reduce any inflammation of the knee joint and joint pain with a view to increasing knee mobility.  This may encompass a special light exercise regimen, ensuring the proper amount of rest and anti-inflammatory pain relief.  In very severe cases, knee replacement may be recommended.

EXERCISES FOR KNEE ARTHRITIS

Special exercise routines, formulated keeping in mind the severity of the arthritis, your age and how mobile you are can be very important in treating arthritis.  It has been shown that warm showers before commencing exercise and icepack applied to muscles afterwards can be helpful in reducing discomfort from the exercise routine.

REST

It is imperative that you get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.  Your rheumatologist may also suggest the use of a knee brace, splint or cane to take some of the weight off the affected knee from time to time.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS

These drugs can be very helpful in reducing knee pain but need to be taken with caution for they can have serious side effects,  Always take them according to their directions or the instructions of your specialist.  Listen to your body and consult with your doctor or specialist should you notice any side effects.

KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENT

Knee joint replacement or arthroplasty is a last resort treatment. It entails replacing part or all of the knee joint with special artificial components that mimic a real joint. It involves surgery and is carried out by an orthopedic surgeon.

For more information on knee joint replacement see this post- What is Knee Arthroscopy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-1QT2UeOY

Knee fractures in children are not uncommon. The most common causes are from playing sports, playground injuries, bicycles falls and other “rough and tumble” activities that most children get up to.

Proper diagnosis of the fracture is crucial as a wrong diagnosis can have significant consequences to the child. Diagnosing a fracture as a sprain is one area where the correct diagnosis is most important. In growing children the ligaments surrounding their knees can be stronger than the knee joint cartilage or the growth plates adjacent to the knee. Misdiagnosing a fracture here as ligament sprain could have major implications later on.After proper diagnosis and treatment of knee fractures, knee exercises are recommended to assist proper healing.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Children

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in children (acl injuries) are a lot more common that was first thought. Teenage girls participating in soccer are several times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than boys. Although relatively easy to diagnose an ACL injury in adults, it is somewhat more difficult in children.

A “pop” in the knee followed by the knee filling tightly with fluid is usually the first sign. The child will usually have difficulty walking on the affected leg and will be in considerable pain. Diagnosis if Knee Fractures in Children and ACL Injuries The first step is to have the knee X-rayed to confirm the injury and, in the case of growing children, to ensure there is no damage to growth plates above or below the knee or to the bone to which the anterior cruciate ligament is attached.

Knowing exactly what sort of fracture of injury the knee has suffered to determine not only the type of treatment but also the urgency of the surgery. There are several ways to determine if the ACL has been torn but an MRI is one of the best. The added benefit of an MRI when diagnosing knee fractures in children is that damage to other areas of the knee joint can be observed. The most definitive method is by arthroscopy of the knee where the knee joint is actually looked at using keyhole surgery.

Treatment of ACL Injuries in Children

It was commonly thought in the past that reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament should not be done until the child has stopped growing. This placed a great deal of stress on the child to cease or modify the sporting activity as the risk of doing more damage to the knee by leaving the ACL untreated has been patently established.

For children over the age of 10 years it is now common practice for ACL reconstruction to be performed and has been shown to be highly successful. This allows normal sporting activities to be resumed much sooner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOXlNMH3b-E

Building up the actual muscle groups which support the knee joint using knee exercises is undoubtedly extremely essential in protecting your knees from harm and also from knee pain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4nsy6NjRjw

Weak muscles are not able to effectively support the knee and also absorb shock prior to it reaching your knee and the additional stress placed on your knee may cause injury to the components of the knee joint. Strengthening exercises could make your muscles tight, therefore always combine strength knee exercises with stretching knee exercises.

Stretching the particular muscle groups which support the knee together with knee exercises is without a doubt very crucial for protecting against injuries. Supple muscles are usually not as prone to injuries as tight and constricted muscles. Tightness of the muscles coupled to the knee joint could pull the knee out of alignment.

HOW DO KNEE EXERCISES HELP STRENGTHEN THE KNEE

Whenever undertaking stretching knee exercises, always be very careful to proceed gradually and not overstretch. You don’t want to tear a muscle.  You should increase the duration of the knee exercises bit by bit to avoid overuse problems as well as knee pains. You must be patient. You will see success.  Muscle strength must be increased steadily.

Whenever muscles, ligaments or tendons are stressed above their limits, incredibly small tears develop. This is normal, and as all these tears repair, your muscles in fact end up larger, stronger and more powerful. These tiny tears must be given enough time to mend or serious complications can develop.

Try to avoid exercising the identical muscle groups 2 days in a row in order to give your body enough time to recover. Carrying out knee strengthening exercises up to four times a week will usually be ample. However, you can do you stretching knee exercises more regularly than that.

HOW TO MINIMIZE PAIN CAUSED BY KNEE EXERCISES

The idea is always to protect against injury along with knee pain, and not to contribute to it. Don’t dismiss pain or muscle soreness. Pain is your body’s way of safeguarding you from injuring yourself even more. It’s not at all abnormal to experience minor stiffness as well as aching of your muscles that might last up to a day after working out. However barely being capable of moving for a few days following exercising indicates you have overdone it. It’s sometimes difficult to recognize when to stop when you are doing your knee exercises.

Sometimes, the aches won’t start until a couple of days after. If it does, you will certainly get a better understanding of your personal body’s limitations.  If you have overdone your own knee exercises, rest is very important. When it comes to painful muscles or tendons, applying ice packs can really help minimize swelling and inflammation and also soreness and should help accelerate recovery. You should be free of any knee pain before returning to your knee exercises program. Having said that, gently working the painful muscles can sometimes help reduce muscle pain.

IF UNSURE ABOUT YOUR KNEE EXERCISES, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you are suffering from knee joint pain or perhaps a knee injury or reduced movement in your knee joint and are not sure which particular knee exercises will suitable for your condition, consult a doctor or physical therapist who can easily evaluate your condition and provide you with an individualized treatment or exercise regimen.

However, if you do not have medical insurance then the cost of arthroscopic knee surgery can be daunting. In this article we will look at some basic information about the procedure and what the average cost of a knee arthroscopy is.

BENEFITS OF KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

• Arthroscopy provides many benefits over open orthopedic knee surgery.

• It is quicker to perform. Your orthopedic surgeon only makes three incisions in the knee joint into which he inserts a tiny camera and the necessary instruments.

• Since the incisions are small, there is less trauma involved and recovery time is much less than in conventional knee surgery.

• The level of post-surgical pain is also reduced.

PAYMENT FOR ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY

If you do not have medical insurance then make sure you discuss this with your surgeon and ensure he is aware that you will be paying for this procedure with your own money. This will often not mean that an arthroscopy is out of the question.

Quite often, when your physician knows this and is also aware that you are willing to do what is necessary to pay for the procedure, the doctor will help with some form of payment plan and will sometimes even charge less knowing that getting payment will be simpler and quicker than going through an insurance company.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

The U.S. Department of Human Services cites the average cost of a knee arthroscopy to be around $4500 but it could be as high as $7000. The variation in cost depends on such things as location, the type of procedure that is to be performed, cost of anaesthesia and other related doctor’s fees and hospital services. It is important to verify the costs with your surgeon before the operation so you don’t get any rude shocks afterwards.

TO HAVE ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY OF NOT

Delaying or postponing indefinitely your arthroscopic knee surgery because of financial circumstances is a serious decision to face and should not be made lightly. Delaying surgery for any serious condition could lead to a more serious injury resulting and one that will cost a lot more to rectify, or maybe will not be able to be operated on at all. You should discuss the pros and cons of delaying your arthroscopy with your orthopedic knee surgeon who can offer sound advice.

The most important point is to discuss your situation openly with your doctor as most physicians will do all they can to ensure their patients get the care and medical help the need.

How much does arthroscopic knee surgery cost might be minimal when compared to the benefits you can get from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbqS8ZCTs_0

If you suffer from knee pain in the last thing you want to hear is that you will need to undergo knee surgery. Fortunately knee surgery is now treated as a last resort and there are several other treatments to help relieve knee pain symptoms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM-j0-LyZWQ

Treat Knee Pain With Orthotics & Knee Braces

Sometimes the best knee pain treatment can also be the simplest. The simple thing such as changing your posture or ceasing a particular activity can be all that’s needed. In my case it was using orthotics that resulted in complete knee pain relief. All this did was to slightly change the way I walk which changed how my knee was working and the rest is history. Of course, it’s not always that easy.

Some people find using a knee brace can be a great knee pain reliever. The brace works in a similar way to orthotics in your shoes in that it changes and corrects the way the knee moves and in many cases can reduce knee joint pain greatly.

Knee Pain Relief Using Corticosteroids

In the medicinal world there are some highly effective knee joint pain relief products. One that is widely used in the treatment of knee pain and also for other types of pain is corticosteroid injections. In this treatment the knee is injected directly with the medication. Although usually not permanent, many people get relief from their joint and knee pain which lasts sometimes many months. It may not be suitable for every patient. Your medical practitioner or specialist will advise if the procedure would be of benefit.

Effective Creams For Knee Pain Relief

There are also creams which in some cases can be effective knee pain treatments. Again they may not be suitable to treat all types of knee pain but can be effective pain treatment in many cases. Thee creams are based on cetylated fatty acids. There have been studies that have shown creams such as these can be very effective with good results happening quickly and continuing with ongoing use of the knee pain relief cream. One such cream is called Celadrin.

There are alternatives to using a cream such as supplements or patches.

We all know that as we age joint problems become more likely and because our knees are subject to a lot of stress, especially if you’ve been active, knee joint problems are very likely. However, in this day and age, it is not necessary to put up with the pain associated with knee joint problems.

Even with knee pain from arthritis there is usually a way of treating the pain. It is important, if you have sore knee joints to consult with your doctor who should be able to point you in the right direction whether it is to consult a foot specialist for orthotics or a brace, use of a cream or supplement or to see a specialist for a more complicated treatment.

Even if orthopedic knee surgery is recommended, with all the advances in modern medicine and technology, the results can be nothing short of miraculous and the thought of knee joint surgery should not scare you. Just remember that knee surgery is a last resort and there are many other non-surgical options to give you relief from knee pain.

Alexander Rodriguez, nicknamed “A-Rod” is one of America’s most successful professional baseball players and is considered to be one of the best baseball players of all time.  He plays third base for the New York Yankees but has also played for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.

A=Rodto have Knee Surgery

A-Rod is the youngest player to make 500 home runs, a record not broken since 1939 and beat Babe Ruth’s record of 600 by over one year.

Now he is due to have knee surgery to repair damage to his knee. Here is an article that outlines his knee injury.

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 07/11/2011 1:00 AM