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You may think the concept of arthritis getting worse in cold, wet weather is an old wives’ tale, but there’s actually science behind those claims. Winter weather can contribute to arthritis symptoms in two primary ways. According to the Arthritis Foundation, wet weather and storms are associated with changes in barometric pressure that can cause swelling inside your joints. Declines in temperature are also associated with increased swelling and joint pain. When the weather is cold and wet, we’re less likely to exercise and be active, which means joints are more likely to “stiffen up.” Plus, the darker months of winter tend to increase the risk of depression, which in turn increases our sensitivity to pain.

How can you prevent arthritis flareups during the cold, wet months of winter?

  • First, see your doctor at the first sign of symptoms for treatments that can help reduce your risk of permanent joint damage.
  • Wear plenty of warm clothing when going outdoors, including mittens or gloves and a good, warm coat or sweater.
  • Change your shoes and socks if they become damp.
  • Stay active! Try to walk each day, if not outdoors, then on an indoor track or at a local mall. Consider signing up for a yoga or Tai Chi class, or do some light stretches while you’re watching TV. Being active not only keeps your joints limber – it also helps ward off depression.
  • Lose excess weight. Even a few extra pounds can put a lot of extra strain on your joints, resulting in increased joint pain, especially during physical activity.
  • Ask your doctor about joint supplements and alternative therapies like acupuncture, and be sure to drink lots of water. Joints function best when they’re well hydrated.

Contact Southeast Orthopedic Specialist

If you’re dealing with arthritis pain and stiffness, don’t delay medical care. Putting off treatment increases both your symptoms and the likelihood you’ll experience permanent joint damage. As a top-ranked provider of orthopedic care in Florida, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists offers comprehensive care for arthritis symptoms. Call (904) 634-0640 or use our online form and schedule an appointment today.

Tips to Keep Arthritis Pain at Bay This Winter

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You may think the concept of arthritis getting worse in cold, wet weather is an old wives’ tale, but there’s actually science behind those claims. Winter weather can contribute to arthritis symptoms in two primary ways. According to the Arthritis Foundation, wet weather and storms are associated with changes in barometric pressure that can cause swelling inside your joints. Declines in temperature are also associated with increased swelling and joint pain. When the weather is cold and wet, we’re less likely to exercise and be active, which means joints are more likely to “stiffen up.” Plus, the darker months of winter tend to increase the risk of depression, which in turn increases our sensitivity to pain.

How can you prevent arthritis flareups during the cold, wet months of winter?

  • First, see your doctor at the first sign of symptoms for treatments that can help reduce your risk of permanent joint damage.
  • Wear plenty of warm clothing when going outdoors, including mittens or gloves and a good, warm coat or sweater.
  • Change your shoes and socks if they become damp.
  • Stay active! Try to walk each day, if not outdoors, then on an indoor track or at a local mall. Consider signing up for a yoga or Tai Chi class, or do some light stretches while you’re watching TV. Being active not only keeps your joints limber – it also helps ward off depression.
  • Lose excess weight. Even a few extra pounds can put a lot of extra strain on your joints, resulting in increased joint pain, especially during physical activity.
  • Ask your doctor about joint supplements and alternative therapies like acupuncture, and be sure to drink lots of water. Joints function best when they’re well hydrated.

Contact Southeast Orthopedic Specialist

If you’re dealing with arthritis pain and stiffness, don’t delay medical care. Putting off treatment increases both your symptoms and the likelihood you’ll experience permanent joint damage. As a top-ranked provider of orthopedic care in Florida, Southeast Orthopedic Specialists offers comprehensive care for arthritis symptoms. Call (904) 634-0640 or use our online form and schedule an appointment today.

Injuries Rise During the Holidays – Here’s What to Watch For

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We’re heading into the most festive time of year, but it is also one of the most common times for new patients to visit because of a holiday related injury of pain. What makes the holidays so accident and injury prone? Travel to see family in colder climates, new and exciting gifts that require physical activity and even an increase in local activity make injuries more common during the holiday season.

Common Injuries During the Holiday Season

Holiday Travel

Travel itself isn’t likely to harm you, but if you travel to a colder climate and are not used to walking and driving on snow and ice, risk of injury is increased. Even people who live in these cold areas experience thousands of injuries each year from slipping and falling on snow and ice. Back, hip and knee injuries often result after a seasonal fall. Also, sitting for long periods of time can put strain on your back and cause pain or discomfort.

Holiday Gifts and Entertaining

The very gifts designed to delight kids and young teens can lead to a visit to an orthopedic specialist. Skates, bikes, scooters and even sports equipment could result in a lasting injury. Many of these are minor, but some leave behind lasting knee, back or limb pain that needs attention from a doctor to properly heal. Just pulling the turkey from the oven can lead to a burn that sends you to the emergency room for treatment.

Shopping

It’s not the shopping itself, but rather the increase in traffic and activity around shopping destinations that increases the risk of auto accidents and collisions. If you are involved in an accident, you could face a lengthy recovery.

Contact A Specialist

Almost all the holiday related issues are injuries from falls; whether you slip on an unexpected patch of ice or you fall off your new bicycle, you could need help from a specialist. If you have been injured and the pain is simply not going away, contact us for help. Our team of orthopedic specialists is waiting to help when you need us most.

What Orthopedic Injuries are Most Common This Time of Year?

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Orthopedic injuries can happen easily in the cold weather months, simply because ice and snow create a hazardous environment that makes it easy to slip or fall. Simple activities like walking to your car or driving to work become far more hazardous once winter conditions are involved.

What Are the Most Common Winter Injuries?

Winter weather contributes to slips and falls, and a tumble on steps, the sidewalk or the street can lead to hip, knee or back pain that lasts far past the spring thaw. Snow poses another seasonal hazard; the repetitive motion of shoveling can lead to back or shoulder injuries. Even your vehicle poses a risk, lowered visibility, snow and ice increase your risk of accident. Luckily for those of us living in Florida, we do not have to worry about the snow. But if you are traveling North or have families living in the Northern part of the United States, here are some things to look out for:

Snow Related Injuries

Snow is dangerous stuff. A recent research study found that there are about 11.500 visits to the emergency room each year just from snow shoveling. Most of these injuries were to the back and shoulder; this does not include the heart attacks that result from sedentary folks who take to the driveway to vigorously clear things off.

Driving Hazards

Weather related risks rise during the cold winter months; snow, ice and sleet make roads less safe for everyone who has to venture out. About 445,000 people had weather related injuries while driving over a 10-year period, according to a recent study. Auto injuries can leave patients suffering from next, back and limb injuries that need surgery to truly improve.

Slips and Falls

Salt, sand and de-icer only do so much. Winter weather can still make the pavement and all surfaces hazardous. Even if you do not experience icy weather – Florida is not likely to see much snow – heavy fall rains can lead to slippery conditions and unexpected falls. Simply walking through a wet parking lot and then into a store can cause a fall, because the store floor will be wet and slippery.

Fall and winter pose more hazards than spring and summer, because of increased precipitation and depending on where you live, snow and ice. Taking extra precautions can help you avoid any injuries, including the lasting types that could need orthopedic specialist attention.

For those of you on Florida – the threats you may see are hazards from rain. We hope you don’t need us because of a seasonal fall or injury, but if you do, we can help. Contact the Southeast Orthopedic Specialist team to learn more about your options and to get releif after an injury.

When is a Good Time to Schedule Hip Replacement Surgery?

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The weather and time of year, the amount of help you have available and even your schedule and ability to get to appointments will all impact the timing of your surgery. The “right time” is unique for every patient and depends on your own personal circumstances. Here are a few things to consider as you decide on the timing for your surgery.

5 Things To Consider Before Hip Replacement Surgery

1. What’s the weather like?

Snow and ice won’t be a factor in Florida, but hurricane season could be. Initially you will probably be using a walker or crutches to get around for a while after your hip surgery. Even warm puddles of rainwater will not be your friend as you recover.

2. Who is available to help you recover?

Your surgeon will provide you with a comprehensive list of preparations to make your postoperative period as comfortable as possible. Most hip replacement patients are looking at three to six weeks of some difficulty getting around, even though that relentless hip pain is gone. Before hip surgery, you will have already cleared all slip/fall risks from your home, and moved food and preparation items to a place where you do not have to bend to reach them. However, you’ll need some daily help just navigating around your home safely, especially in the beginning.

3. Will transportation be available?

Is there one time of year that rides to and from rehab and doctor appointments (and the grocery store) are easier to schedule? For some patients, help is more available in the summer than at any other time.

4. Is pet care an issue?

If you have a pet you may need to make arrangements since you will be unable to care for your pet. Your furry companion needs looking after too. Will there be room at the kennel for a while, or a temporary home with a relative or friend? Make plans so that your pet is looked after.

5. What do you love to do?

Your active lifestyle is going to come back. You will be doing a lot of walking, and each step will get easier. Is bowling, tennis or golf your thing? Pain and immobility have kept you on the sidelines for too long.

Time to Contact A Specialist

Consider your particular needs, factor in a few months of recovery and set the date for that hip replacement. The Southeast Orthopedic Specialists team will get you back on your feet; the rest of your life is waiting.

How Physical Therapy and Surgery Work in Tandem to Treat Orthopedic Conditions

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Physical therapy is crucial for ensuring the complete success of orthopedic surgery. After a surgery, your body needs to heal and it must be trained to regain function in the affected area. This is why our physical therapy specialists are committed to working alongside our surgeons to effectively treat everyone who walks through our door.

The Importance of Orthopedic Surgeons and Physical Therapists Working Together

Every condition is unique, and every surgical procedure is unique as well. Therefore, it is essential for the physical therapy that a person undergoes post-operation to be specifically tailored to their individual condition and procedure.

In order to ensure that they are developing the most effective physical therapy routine possible, our physical therapists work closely alongside our orthopedic surgeons to better understand the patient’s condition, the procedure that was performed and its outcome. Rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach to physical therapy, our therapists will design a physical therapy plan that is tailored specifically to you. Because of this, the surgical procedures at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists and the physical therapy that follows them are able to be much more effective at treating and healing a range of orthopedic conditions. This combined with the expertise of the physical therapists at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists allows us to provide exceptional care to each of our patients.

Enhancing Patient Outcomes Through Effective Physical Therapy

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, our approach to physical therapy is uniquely designed to enhance patient outcomes and dramatically improve the chances of success. If you would like to discover more about physical therapy at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we invite you to learn more about the physical therapists working at our physical therapy facility in Jacksonville FL today.

3 Times to See an Orthopedic Urgent Care Center

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Seek Orthopedic Urgent Care

Orthopedic urgent care centers offer easy and fast access to orthopedic care. They’re the perfect place to go for injuries and other orthopedic issues that aren’t true emergencies but do require prompt treatment.

Here are three times when it’s right to seek ortho urgent care.

Sprains from Playing Sports

Athletes who sprain joints during competition or practice should quickly see an orthopedic specialist at an ortho urgent care center.

An orthopedic specialist will have the expertise required to assess the full extent of an injury and determine an accurate timeline for recovery. In contrast, a generalist may have to refer an injured athlete to an orthopedic specialist — which only increases the time it takes to have an injury assessed and begin treatment.

Of course, you need to see a specialist as quickly as possible so the recovery process can begin as soon as possible. The faster the recovery is started, the shorter the recovery may be and the sooner the athlete will be back competing.

Non-Head Injuries from Falls

Falls that include head injuries call for a trip to the hospital emergency room, where a CT scanner is available to check for potential concussions. When people fall and suffer non-head injuries, however, they’ll frequently get the highest level of treatment at an ortho urgent care center.

An ortho urgent care clinic has the equipment and specialists needed to assess and treat fractured bones, bruised bones and sprained joints (as well as other injuries). By getting these injuries treated at an ortho urgent care clinic, patients can often avoid the hours-long waits often associated with hospital emergency rooms.

Dislocated Joints

Ortho urgent care centers have everything that’s needed for treating most dislocated joints. Clinics have imaging tools and pain medications available, and their specialists know how to safely realign dislocated joints.

As is true with injuries that result from falls, patients will often get faster treatment for dislocated joints at an ortho urgent care clinic that they will at a hospital. Emergency rooms are frequently busy with lots of patients, many of whom have more serious injuries and will be treated first.

If you’ve suffered any of these kinds of injuries, don’t delay seeking treatment. Come see us at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists. You can contact us before you leave, or just come to one of our centers.

How Hand Surgery Can Treat Conditions in Your Hand and Wrist

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Hand and wrist pain can be especially debilitating since we are all so reliant on our hands in our day-to-day lives. If you’ve been looking for an effective, permanent solution to the condition in your hands or wrists, it may be time to consider the specialized procedures offered by our hand surgery specialists.

The Intricacies of Hand Conditions

Our hands are a marvel. There are so many tiny ligaments, muscles, and bones inside the hand that all must function together. While this is great in the sense that it allows our hands to perform an extremely wide range of tasks, it also means there are a lot of things that can go wrong.

When a bone, ligament, or muscle inside your hand becomes damaged either via an injury or a disease, surgery is often the most effective means of repairing it, and there are a variety of surgical procedures designed to treat a variety of conditions. When considering one of these procedures, though, you will want to ensure you are working with a highly skilled surgeon who is experienced in hand and wrist surgeries. To schedule an appointment with one of our world-class hand surgery specialists, be sure to contact us today.

The Benefits of Hand and Wrist Surgery

In many cases, non-surgical treatment is not enough to heal the conditions that cause hand and wrist pain. Hand and wrist surgery, however, is highly effective and proven to reduce or eliminate pain that is caused by a wide range of conditions.

After diagnosing your condition and discussing your options, the hand surgery specialists at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists will schedule a procedure for you that will allow you to regain the function in your hands, eliminate the pain, and start enjoying a more fulfilling life once more.

What You Need to Know About Foot Surgery

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If you are suffering from an injury or disease that has compromised your ability to put weight on your foot and is limiting your mobility, undergoing corrective surgery may be a very viable and effective option. If you are considering foot surgery, here is what you need to know.

Foot Injuries and Conditions are Often Complex

The human foot contains numerous bones, muscles, and ligaments packed into a relatively small space. With this being the case, injuries and conditions that affect the foot often or often complicated and require treatment by a specialist who is experienced with orthopedic surgeries involving the foot and ankle.

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, our foot and ankle specialists are among the most well-trained, well-equipped and experienced physicians in the country. Through state of the art procedures, customized treatment plans and high-quality physical therapy, we are able to help patients quickly recover from foot injuries and conditions.

Physical Therapy is Crucial

Surgery may correct the issue, but physical therapy is what allows your body to heal after the procedure is complete. This is especially true for foot and ankle surgery since your mobility is dependent on your ability to put weight on your foot.

At Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, we recognize the important role that physical therapy plays in the healing process after a patient has undergone surgery. Our goal is always complete and total recovery, and both our surgeons and physical therapists will work with you to ensure that this goal is achieved.

What to do Next

If you would like to explore foot surgery as an option for correcting a problem in your foot or ankle that has been caused by trauma or a specific disease, we invite you to contact us today and schedule an appointment. After diagnosing your condition, our foot and ankle specialists will devise a treatment plan designed to have you pain-free and back on your feet in little time at all.

How to Treat a Broken Ankle

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Breaking a bone in your foot or ankle is a serious condition. Even if a bone is not fully broken, sprains, fractures and tears can still be incredibly painful, limiting your mobility. Outlined below are the ways to treat and recover from foot injuries such as a broken ankle.

Receive Medical Attention

If you are have suffered a foot or ankle injury that is serious enough to limit your mobility, it’s important that you receive professional medical attention as quickly as possible. These injuries don’t often heal well on their own, and they may require surgery and/or physical therapy to treat. You may also benefit from pain medications that you will need a prescription to acquire.

If you have recently suffered a broken ankle or other serious foot injury, we urge you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Rest and Manage the Pain

After visiting with one of our orthopedic specialists, you will be provided with a plan for treating the pain and resting your injury so that it is allowed to heal. This plan may include things such as bed rest, controlling the swelling with ice packs, managing the pain responsibly with medications, and limiting your mobility as much as possible.

Recovering from a foot or ankle injury often takes time and effort, so it’s important to be patient. However, both the surgical procedures at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists as well as the physical therapy that follows them are designed to speed up this recovery time as much as possible. By seeking professional help, limiting your mobility and following procedures that allow your injury to heal, you should be able to achieve a full recovery whether you are dealing with anything from a minor sprain to a broken ankle.

What Exactly is a Joint Replacement?

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There may come a time in your life, if it has not happened already, where your joints start to fail you. This is not the end of the world. With advancements in technology, it is now possible for joints to be replaced through surgery. This type of surgery is helping all kinds of people live pain free lives. They can also be active again through things such as knee joint replacements and hip joint replacements.

What is a Joint Replacement?

Your joints the portion of your body that connect the ends of two or more bones. This connection is made by tissue that is called cartilage. When cartilage is healthy, it provides a protective cushion. This cushion allows you to have low to no friction movement of the two bones and the joint. These joints, and more specifically, the cartilage, can become damaged with age, because of an injury and because of disease. With the tissue becomes inflamed, then this can cause pain every time it is utilized. Even more pain can be caused over time if the cartilage wears down. This can result in the edges of the bone rubbing against each other. If only some of the joint is damaged, then the damaged part can be repaired or replaced through surgery. If the entire joint is damaged, then it is possible that a joint replacement can be done by a doctor. During this process, the diseased or damaged components are removed and then an artificial part is then put in to the joint. This can be known as a prosthesis or an implant.

Joint Replacement Specialist

For more information about your options in terms of joint replacement, to have your joints examined, or simply to ask some questions about the procedure, be sure to contact us today so we can add you to the schedule.

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