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Jumping
for a new joint?
If you are considering a total joint
replacement, we invite you to join us for our
comprehensive, multidisciplinary program,
Total Joint Camp. It is designed to assist
patients by educating and preparing them
for their total joint replacement surgery.
The Total Joint Camp team is made up of
nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists and
case managers. Together, they make it easy
for orthopedic patients to get ready for
their surgery. From preadmission testing
and equipment needs to medication and
rehabilitation, patients will come away with
knowledge and confidence—prepared for
their total joint replacement surgery. The
class is held on the fourth Tuesday of each
month at 2 p.m. in BCR2 at Sharon Hospital.
For more information or to register, please
call Jim Hutchison, Health &Wellness
Concierge, at
877.364.4202
.
Say goodbye to
hip and knee pain
WHETHER
you’re walking
down the street or climbing up
some stairs, moving your knee or
hip shouldn’t make you wince in
pain. That’s exactly what can happen
when arthritis wears away the
shock-absorbing cartilage at the ends
of bones in a hip or knee joint. It’s no
way to live.
If hip or knee pain has become a
part of your life, here’s welcome news.
There are more ways to ease your pain
than you might realize. Here are some
of the most effective strategies:
Trim down.
If you’re overweight,
those extra pounds place extra stress
on weight-bearing joints, like the hip
and knee. Losing weight reduces that
stress and can curb pain.
Give your hip and knee some
TLC.
Rest your joints and do your
best to avoid any activity that makes
your pain worse. Applying heat or
cold to your joint—for example, by
using warm towels or cold packs—
can also ease pain. Check with your
healthcare provider to see whether
you should try heat, cold or both.
Make all the right moves.
Appropriate exercise—specifically,
physical activity that strengthens
the muscles that support your hip or
knee but doesn’t stress them—can
help you move more comfortably
and freely. For a customized exercise
program that can help you improve
range of motion and relieve pain,
your healthcare provider may refer
you to a physical therapist.
Partner with your healthcare
provider for pain relief.
Many
different medicines ease arthritis
To schedule
an orthopedic
consultation,
call
877.364.4202
.
pain, and your healthcare provider
can help find the right match for
you. You might be able to control
your pain with over-the-counter
or prescription pain relievers.
If not, your healthcare provider
may recommend a corticosteroid
injection into your joint, which can
reduce inflammation and pain.
Is it time for surgery?
If steps like these don’t help—and
your pain is severe—your healthcare
provider may advise surgery to
replace your damaged knee or hip
with an artificial one. As many as
4 out of 5 people who undergo
replacement surgery are completely
pain-free within a year, the
American Association of Hip and
Knee Surgeons reports. Even with
an increasingly speedy recovery, it
is still major surgery. So be sure to
carefully explore its pros and cons
with your healthcare provider.
Additional sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes of Health
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Evan Rashkoff, MD
Marty Clark, MD