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Chiropractic for Orthopedic Pain Management

Patients may find that chiropractic sessions help them experience less pain. Chiropractic may be used within a patient treatment program to address a variety of conditions. Those suffering from lower back pain, chronic headaches, difficulty sleeping and more may want to investigate this therapy. Learn more about how chiropractic may benefit your well-being.

Chiropractic May Provide Orthopedic Pain Relief

Many patients are looking for alternative options for orthopedic pain relief that do not rely upon pain medications which may reduce pain but make it difficult to perform routine functions.

Chiropractic adjustments are a non-invasive and often manual therapy used to rebalance the spinal column. There has been research on chiropractic or spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) on how patients experience pain. A single session of SMT may increase the pressure pain threshold in the lumbar spine area and calf, as reported in a study published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. This finding may be useful to those patients who would like to experience less pain and manage their chronic or acute pain. Some patients who receive chiropractic adjustments feel an immediate reduction in pain.

Chiropractic Treatment for Spine Care and More

Patients may want to explore the benefits of chiropractic adjustments as part of the therapies used for spine care. Individual response to treatment may vary. However, many patients are looking for options to reduce pain symptoms that do not interfere with other medications or therapies they may be using. Chiropractic has been used to treat a range of symptoms and is a non-invasive complementary therapy.

There are a number of therapies available to patients at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists at their six Northeast Florida locations. Speak with an associate at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists to find out more about how chiropractic may be used to address an orthopedic injury or for pain management today.

Warning Signs of Carpal Tunnel and Texting Thumb

Continuous typing can cause repetitive motion injuries that cause pain in and affect the function of digits. Historically, carpal tunnel syndrome has been a pervasive injury caused by repeated typing. As messaging on handheld devices becomes more common, texting thumb is joining carpal tunnel syndrome as a major orthopedic issue. Here are three warning signs of these two increasingly common injuries.

Pain and Numbness in the Wrist and Fingers

Carpal tunnel is caused by over-stretching the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist and to the fingers. As this nerve is overworked, it becomes painful and may cause numbness. The symptoms may occur anywhere along where the nerve runs from the wrist to the fingers.

Popping or Clicking in the Thumb

Texting thumb is brought on by the overuse of the flexor tendon, which manipulates the thumb. Because this is a tendon, and not a nerve, the symptoms of texting thumb often manifest differently than those of carpal tunnel.

One of the first signs of texting thumb is a clicking or popping sound that occurs when the thumb is moved. The sound may occur when the thumb is moved in a specific direction or to a certain degree, or it might occur seemingly anytime the thumb is moved.

Inability to Move the Thumb

If the initial symptoms of texting thumb are ignored or go untreated, the thumb may eventually be locked in place. As the tendon is worn out, it can cause the thumb to curl. In severe cases, people may not be able to uncurl the thumb.

Seek Early Treatment by an Orthopedic Specialist

While both carpal tunnel and texting thumb can be severe, there are effective ways to treat each condition. If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, see an orthopedic specialist who can evaluate your specific symptoms. The earlier you seek medical help, the faster the condition can be remedied.

3 Things You Should Know About Hip Flexor Strains

A hip flexor strain occurs when your hip flexor muscles become injured through various activities that cause the muscles to overstretch or hyperextend. Such strains can vary in severity, from minor injuries which can be treated at home to severe strains that need medical attention.

Where are your hip flexors located and how can they become injured?

Your hip flexors are the group of muscles that connect your femur in your upper leg to your hips, groin and lower back. This set of muscles works together to help you move around and stabilize yourself.

Through overuse or overstretching, the muscles and tendons that make up your hip flexors can become injured. Because your hip flexors are most engaged when you bring your knees up, activities that involve this motion such as running, dancing and martial arts are most likely to result in hip flexor strain.

What are the typical signs of a hip flexor strain?

Sharp pain in the pelvis or hip area is the most common symptom of a hip flexor strain and usually appears suddenly after the injury has occurred. You may also experience cramping in your upper leg muscles, tenderness or swelling in the area, muscle spasms in your thighs or hips, and overall reduced mobility and strength in your hips and upper legs.

How should you treat a hip flexor strain?

Minor hip flexor strains can typically be treated at home. Resting the muscles and avoiding activities that can aggravate the injury can help encourage healing. To deal with the pain associated with such an injury, you can apply a compression wrap, use ice or heat on the injured area, or take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.

If you continue to experience pain in your hip flexors after 10 days, medical attention may be needed; in severe cases, physical therapy or even surgery may be necessary. Contact the orthopedic doctors at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists to learn more about your treatment options and our orthopedic services.

Is Tennis Elbow An Occupational Risk?

Recent research shows that certain manual tasks commonly performed on the job may be increasing your risk of tennis elbow, a painful condition that may require surgery. In light of this evidence, it is important for employers and employees to take steps to protect themselves from this condition.

About Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow, also known as “lateral epicondylitis,” is a disorder that develops in the elbow and causes joint pain. It occurs when the tendons in your elbow sustain damage, usually from repetitive motions that put stress on these tendons over time.

About the Research

The research study in question focused on five specific studies from the United States and France. Through meta-analysis, researchers concluded that there was a significant, positive association between exposure to repetitive activities involving the elbow and/or wrist and the development of tennis elbow. The more an individual was exposed to this activity, the more likely they were to develop this condition.

What Does It Mean for Workers?

This meta-analysis has important implications for workers and employers alike. People who spend their workdays performing repetitive motions with their wrists and/or elbows should be aware of their risk of developing tennis elbow. In addition, people who have already developed tennis elbow should make an effort to reduce or eliminate repetitive motions that affect this part of their body.

Based on the evidence found in this study, employers who require employees to engage in repetitive motions involving the wrist and elbow should also consider changing their protocols and/or providing supportive services to help prevent the development of tennis elbow among their employees. Furthermore, employers should be prepared to make adjustments and adaptations for workers who are already affected by this condition and need to prevent further damage.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of tennis elbow, you need to seek treatment to prevent the condition from getting worse. Please contact Southeast Orthopedic Specialists today to make an appointment.

You Don’t Have to Live with Sciatica

The Sciatic nerve is the largest in your body, so when there is something wrong with it, there is bound to be some pain. The actual nerve starts out in the lower spine, goes into the buttock, to the back of the thigh and keeps going down to the foot. Unfortunately, this means sciatica pain can do the same thing. When it’s not causing you pain, however, the sciatic nerve serves an important purpose, and helps the spinal cord maintain communication with your leg and foot muscles and dictates reflexes.

Why Sciatica Pain Happens

As with any pain, one of the first steps in dealing with sciatica pain is to understand where it comes from so that you can work to reverse the effects and reduce or eliminate the pain. In most cases of sciatica, the sciatic nerve has somehow become compressed, causing sciatic or lumbar radiculopathy. In most cases, it is a particular nerve root in the spine that is effected by a herniated disc, which reduces or eliminates the natural cushioning in that area of the spine. A stress fracture, narrowing of the spinal canal after age 60, or joint problems may also contribute to sciatica pain. 

Once the pain hits the sciatic nerve, it makes its way down the lower extremities. In addition to back pain and leg pain, other types of discomfort, including tingling, numbness, burning, or a prickly sensation may be felt as well. The pain itself is normally sharp in nature, rather than dull, and feels worse when standing or sitting still and lessens if you walk around.

Treating Sciatica Pain

When sciatica pain becomes severe, some health care providers will go as far as suggesting strong medications, such as epidural steroid injections, or narcotic muscle relaxants in order to alleviate the pain, and many patients follow cultural instincts when pain begins and grab a dose of over the counter medicine, such as ibuprofen when they start to feel their back pain travel into their legs. These methods can have long term negative effects, however, and many seek out alternatives that can be just as effective while carrying fewer risks.

  1. Heat and Ice. When sciatica pain happens only occasionally, applying heat and ice packs may be enough to get the pain under control. Alternating between applying ice and heat is beneficial for many people, although some prefer one method over the other. In either case, it is important to have a barrier, such as a towel to prevent burns.
  2. Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation. Spinal manipulation by a skilled chiropractor can help to improve spinal alignment and correct many of the root causes of sciatic pain.
  3. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient treatment method designed to balance the body’s energy by inserting very thin needles into the skin near the pain source.
  4. Massage Therapy. Massage therapy can help improve pain by improving circulation, relaxing muscles, and releasing endorphins.

Surgical Options

In some cases, other methods are attempted unsuccessfully, and orthopedic surgery becomes necessary to treat chronic sciatica pain. At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists in Jacksonville, Middleburg, Vendra Beach and Orange Park, Florida our orthopedic doctors and specialists will look at the specifics of what is going on with your sciatica pain and help you find the right path to long term relief. If you are experiencing sciatica pain, let us help you get to the root of the problem. Contact us at 904-634-0640 to make an appointment and the location that is best for you.

Reasons You May Need Hand Surgery

Our hands enable us to thrive. We feel, touch, grasp, carry and hold the world around us using our hands. So, what do we do when our hands hurt or are weak? In some cases, we turn to the experience and expertise of one of our Jacksonville Orthopedic surgeons. This blog explores the reasons you may need hand surgery

First Steps – Treatment Before Surgery

For many patients, hand surgery is not the first tool to reach for when they need to address pain, limited range of motion, or even the onset of diseases such as arthritis. There are many pre-surgical treatments that do a wonderful job of reducing or eliminating pain, improving the range of motion and strength in your hands and addressing the early signs and symptoms of a disease. Those include:

While these treatments help millions of people overcome pain, limited range of motion and disease, they may not be appropriate for your case, or sometimes they are not enough.

When You May Need Hand Surgery

Our Jacksonville orthopedic surgeons are each a hand surgery specialist and they practice from the perspective that every patient is unique, and so are their healthcare challenges. For that reason, surgery may or may not be the best option for you. Reach out to our Jacksonville orthopedic unit with questions or to schedule an initial exam.

  • Trauma: Hand surgery following trauma is common. Broken fingers, a broken wrist, crushing injuries, traumatic amputations are all examples of when hand surgery is part of emergency care.
  • Post Trauma Recovery: Sometimes surgery is not possible at the time of trauma and must be part of the follow-up care for recovery. At other times, emergency care needs to be corrected with hand surgery to ensure that long-term use of your hand is as natural as possible.
  • Joint Replacement: Replacement of the wrist joint is an option when arthritis advances to the point where:
    • The wrist become locked
    • There is limited range of motion
    • Is severe pain or weakness in the fingers and hand
    • The quality of life of the patient diminishes
  • Disease Impacts Use of the Wrist: The primary disease that affects the wrist is arthritis, but other diseases or conditions also require hand surgery. Those may include birth defects, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and infections.

Many options exist for treating problems with your wrist. The best advice for people who suffer from hand pain, limited range of motion, or weakness in your hand is to talk with a hand surgery specialist who recognizes that your treatment options and condition require a unique and personalized approach to care and treatment.

How Do I Know If I Really Need a Hand Surgery Specialist?

A hand fracture and a hand injury that’s going to require surgery are two different things. But how do you know if your particular injury is going to require surgery? The first thing you need to do is contact a hand surgery specialist immediately. Scheduling an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon is the only way to know for sure what the next step will be for getting you on the road to recovery.

Do I Really Need Hand Surgery?

A Jacksonville orthopedic surgeon will assess your hand during an exam by looking for the following:

  • If the bones in your hand are unstable such as in a compound fracture.
  • If there are bones piercing your skin.
  • If the bones are shattered.
  • Look at the position of your fingers.
  • Check the range of motion of your fingers.
  • Determine if you have any numbness in your fingers.
  • Perform X-Rays to finalize the diagnosis

If an orthopedic doctor determines you have an injury versus a hand fracture, you will be given the option of surgery. At which time the orthopedic surgeon will generally implant wires, plates or screws into your hand to hold the bones in place.

Who Can I Call for Information About a Hand Surgery?

Should you require surgery, or would like more information about a hand surgery, please contact one of our Jacksonville orthopedic surgeons today. At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we promise to treat you and your injury with all the care and compassion you deserve while taking the time to thoroughly answer all your questions.

What About After Surgery Care?

After your injury has healed, your hand surgery specialist could opt for removing the implants; however, some doctors decide to leave them in place. Going forward, your joints might be stiff from the surgery; therefore, your surgeon will probably have you perform some post-recovery exercises to help restore the strength and range of motion in your hand.

Signs of a Broken Ankle: Is Your Ankle Broken or Sprained?

Both a sprained or broken ankle can cause severe pain. In addition, the same sorts of injuries could cause both types of injuries. Shared symptoms include swelling, pain and trouble walking. A doctor may even have to order an x-ray to know for sure; however, there are some signs that your ankle is surely broken and not just sprained.

In either case, you will be prudent to consider calling upon one of our foot and ankle surgeons at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists. Our experienced orthopedic doctors want to relieve your pain and help you return to your feet.

Signs of a Broken Ankle

Both ankle fractures or sprains usually occur because of too much pressure gets put on the joint. People typically suffer from these types of accidents during sports or auto accidents. In some cases, ankles can get stressed because a person stumbles or simply overuses the joint. People who suffer from conditions that lower bone density or who take certain medications may be more vulnerable to fractured ankles.

If you notice any sign of a deformation, a bone that has pierced skin or an inability to put any weight on your ankle at all, there is a high chance that you did fracture an ankle bone. Most likely, the fractured bone is the one called the fibula. This is the smaller bone on the outside of the bottom of each leg.

Sometimes, mild fractions don’t produce symptoms that feel much more severe than sprains. People have been known to walk on small fractures without realizing that they broke a bone. If you only suffer from mild symptoms, how can you tell if you have a broken ankle? If your symptoms don’t get better or get worse after ice, compression, rest and a pain reliever, you should still consider the possibility that you have broken an ankle bone. Most foot and ankle orthopedists will advise you that it’s better to get a professional diagnosis than to try to guess.

When to See an Orthopedist About Foot & Ankle Problems

Our feet and ankles are extremely important to our body. They allow us to walk around and do other things such as dance or play sports. Because of this, it is important to listen to your body. If your feet and ankles are injured, you want to take care of them as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to an impact on your quality of life.

Symptoms to Watch For

If you ever experience pain in your feet or ankles, you should take notice. These are just a few of the symptoms that you should be on the lookout for and if you do experience any of these things, you should see an orthopedist to have them checked out:

  • Pain that lasts for more than 72 hours in your feet or ankles
  • Swelling of one of your legs or feet that lasts for more than 24 hours
  • An increase in pain when you are exercising or walking
  • Pain while you are resting or when you are elevating your legs
  • A new progression of a foot deformity that comes on suddenly
  • An infection in your ankles or feet
  • The flattening of your arch in one of your feet or both
  • A developing blister or ulcer on your foot or feet that you did not feel happening
  • An ulcer or blister on your foot or feet that is not healing
  • A loss of sensation in your feet or ankles

These are some very serious issues that you want to have checked out as soon as possible. If you are experiencing any of these problems, you should contact one of our orthopedic doctors Orange Park Florida. Contact us today to make an appointment so we can get you back on your feet.

Shoulder Injuries Common in the Summer

Summer is full of activities for many people. Unfortunately, for some people, that also means a rise in injuries. Many of these injuries are related to the shoulder. It is important to note that if you do injure your shoulder, you should get some help immediately so that it does not become and even bigger issue later. These are some of the most common shoulder injuries we see in the summer.

Shoulder Strains

A shoulder strain happens when a muscle or tendon in your shoulder is stretched. Some of the signs you may have a shoulder strain include pain, swelling, muscle cramps or spasms and a decreased mobility in your muscle. This happens when the muscle has been stretched too far or too fast. It is often a sudden type of event such as falling, heavy lifting or throwing. You can even experience a chronic shoulder strain from repetitive motions over an extended period of time. This could happen from sports such as golf, tennis or rowing.

Rotator Cuff Injury

The rotator cuff helps to rotate your arm and is a system of muscles and tendon in your shoulder socket. A rotator cuff injury could be a stretching of these muscles or tendons, irritation of the tendons, inflammation in the socket or it could be a complete tear of one or more of the tendons. The rotator cuff is a complex system and injuries are common. Injuries are found more often in athletes or people who use their arms overhead a lot. Some examples of this would be swimmers, construction workers, tennis players, baseball players and even painters.

It is important to seek medical attention when you have any shoulder pain because it could lead to something bigger if left untreated. If you need a consultation or are in need of rotator cuff surgery, be sure to contact us today by calling our office.

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