Everything You Need To Know About Hip Replacement Surgery

The hip joint is the body’s largest ball-and-socket joint. It is designed to withstand repeated motion and fits together carefully to allow movement in our body. You may not think about it but our hips deal with serious stress on a daily basis. Even simply walking or running puts a lot of force on our hips. In a healthy situation, a cushion of cartilage prevents friction as the bone moves in the socket. Thankfully, our bones and cartilage are both very durable. However, the hip joint is not indestructible and can wear down or become damaged with age. If you are especially active, the muscles and the tendons in the hip can also get overused. In older individuals who develop osteoarthritis, the hip bone itself can easily be fractured during a fall. Quality of life can significantly decrease after a hip fracture. Big or small, hip pain can impact all aspects of your daily life.

Depending on what is causing your hip pain, you might start to feel discomfort in your lower body: your thigh, inside the hip joint, your groin, outside the hip joint and your buttocks. Sometimes pain from your back or groin can also be related to the hip. If you start to notice that your pain gets worse with activity, it might be caused by arthritis. Along with the pain, you could have a reduced range of motion. Sometimes, people develop a limp because of the persistent hip pain.

If you have persistent pain that is impacting your ability to live your life normally, it might be time for you to get a hip replacement. During this operation, the surgeon removes the damaged sections of your hip joint and replaces them with parts usually constructed of metal and hard plastic. This artificial joint, a prosthesis, helps you reduce your pain and improve function. Hip replacement surgery can be performed traditionally or by using a minimally-invasive technique. The main difference between the two procedures is the size of the incision.

Hip replacement surgery has been performed for over a hundred years. As well as any other surgical techniques, techniques are being improved all the time. Similarly, as any other surgery, there can be risks. Since you will not be able to move around a lot after the surgery, blood clots can be a concern. To prevent this, your doctor will give you blood thinners to help prevent blood clots from occurring.

During the standard hip replacement surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia to relax the muscles and to get the patient to a temporary deep sleep. The anesthesia will prevent the patient from feeling any pain or discomfort during the surgery, as well as preventing any awareness of the procedure. A spinal anesthetic can also be given as an alternative to help prevent pain.

After that, the doctor will make a cut along the side of the hip and move the muscles connected to the top of the thighbone to help expose the hip joint. Next, the ball portion of the joint is removed by cutting the thighbone with a saw. Then an artificial joint is attached to the thighbone using a special material that allows the remaining bone to attach to the new joint. The doctor then prepares the surface of the hip bone to attach the replacement socket part to the hip bone. The new ball part of the thighbone is inserted into the socket part of the hip. The doctor then reattaches the muscles and closes the incision.

After the surgery, you will likely have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days with a pillow between your legs to keep the new hip joint stay in place. A drainage tube will be placed in your bladder to help you go to the bathroom. Physical therapy will begin the day after the surgery and within days you can start to walk with crutches or a cane. The physical therapy will continue for weeks to months following the surgery.

For six to twelve months after hip replacement surgery, twisting the leg involved should be avoided. Also, the leg involved should not cross the midline of your body or turn it inward.  This also includes bending forward at the waist as well as squatting. Your physical therapist will provide you with different techniques and equipment needed to help you follow the guidelines and have precautions while performing your daily activities. 

Coming back home might be hard after hip replacement surgery, but there are a couple things you can do to make life much easier.  For example, you can keep stair climbing to a minimum. Before coming back home, make the necessary arrangements so you will only have to go up or down the stairs once a day. Another thing you can do is sit firm in a straight-back chair. To avoid falls, try and remove all rugs from the floor to keep it clutter free. For daily necessities like going to the bathroom, use an elevated toilet seat. With this, you will prevent bending too far at the hips.

As surgical techniques keep evolving, we now know that about 85% of the hip joint implants will last 20 years. Getting a skilled surgeon can make all the difference. The South Texas Spinal Clinic is an excellent option for anyone in San Antonio, Texas.

What Is Ultherapy

Ultherapy is the only non-invasive cosmetic procedure FDA-cleared to lift skin on the neck, under the chin and on the eyebrows. It is now also FDA-cleared to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Ultherapy can help you achieve a fresher, more youthful look from your brow to your chest. This therapy harnesses the power of ultrasound to transform the brow, chin, neck and chest. Ultrasound, of course, has been used safely throughout the medical field for more than 50 years. In addition, every plastic surgeon receives extensive procedural training and has been established as safe and effective in clinical studies in over half a million treatments worldwide.

Ultherapy relies on ultrasound therapy to deliver its collagen-boosting treatment. It also incorporates traditional ultrasound imaging, which allows practitioners to see the layers of tissue they are treating, ensuring the treatment energy is delivered to where it will be most beneficial.

Unlike lasers, radio frequency, surgery and other technologies, Ultherapy bypasses the surface of the skin non-surgically. It delivers the right amount of ultrasound energy at the right depths and the right temperature. This energy triggers a natural response under the skin, jumpstarting the regenerative process that produces fresh, new collagen.

Ultherapy treats the deep foundational layer addressed in plastic surgery. However, it won't duplicate the results of a facelift. This type of therapy is a great alternative especially for those not ready for surgery or for patients looking to extend the effects of cosmetic surgery. It uses ultrasound, which is most commonly associated with OBGYNs but has other applications. Ultrasound has unique properties that allow it to bypass the surface of the skin to treat depths not matched by any other non-invasive cosmetic device. Ultherapy ultrasound stimulates collagen production in the skin's foundation, resulting in a clinically significant lift of tissue over two to three months. Lasers rely on light energy, which cannot reach deeper skin layers at an optimal temperature. Because of this, laser treatments typically only treat superficial skin and are not FDA-cleared to lift skin.

Before your treatment, the first thing you will want to do is schedule a one-on-one consultation with an plastic surgeon. A good candidate for this therapy has mild to moderate skin elasticity. The skin is beginning to feel and look less firm. Examples include a lowered eyebrow line, loose skin on the neck, sagging under the chin, and lines or wrinkles on the chest.

Of course, the best way to find out if you're an Ultherapy candidate is to consult with a plastic surgeon. During this session, your plastic surgeon will address your concerns, assess your skin and determine if you are a candidate for the treatment. Once you book your procedure, you won’t need to follow any special preparations or skincare regimens in advance of the treatment. To enhance your comfort, your plastic surgeon may recommend that you take an over-the-counter or prescribed medication before the treatment.

After cleansing the skin and identifying the specific areas to be treated, your plastic surgeon will apply the ultrasound gel and place the smooth treatment applicator against your skin. Next, your plastic surgeon will use Ultherapy’s ultrasound imaging to first see deep within the skin to determine optimal placement of the treatment energy, and then deliver the focused ultrasound energy beneath the skin’s surface. During the treatment delivery, you will feel tiny amounts of energy being deposited to precise depths, indicating that the collagen-building process has been initiated.

After the treatment, some patients see an initial effect right after their treatment, but the real results appear over two to three months as new collagen works to lift and tighten skin on the treated areas. Your skin might appear flushed at first. However, the redness should disappear within a few hours. Some patients experience slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to the touch. These are mild and temporary in nature. Most patients only need one treatment. However, based on the degree of skin elasticity, the biological response to ultrasound energy and the individual's collagen-building process, some patients benefit from additional treatments. Since your skin continues to age, future touch-up treatments can help patients keep pace with the body's natural aging process.

While Ultherapy won’t duplicate the results of a facelift, it’s a clinically proven non-invasive alternative for those not ready for surgery. It  can even be an option for patients who wish to extend the effects of plastic surgery. Since the procedure stimulates your own collagen production, how long the results last really depends on you and your body. The treatment produces new collagen on the inside, but your natural aging process will dictate how long that translates into visible results on the outside.

After your treatment, there is no downtime! You can return to your normal activities immediately after your procedure without any post-treatment restrictions or requirements.

The cost of an Ultherapy treatment can range depending upon the area being treated and factors such as geographic location and individual physician practices. Since the treatment is so personalized, to get the most accurate price quote, it is best to speak with a nearby plastic surgeon. If you are in the San Antonio, Texas area, consider visiting Dr. Suresh Koneru, a board-certified plastic surgeon at Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery.

You’re Pregnant? Time to see your Obstetrician!

Now that you’re pregnant, you have two to take care of and you need a specialist to help you do so. The doctor you need is an obstetrician; he or she takes care of you and your baby through the pregnancy, delivery and into the post-natal care phase.

When Should you Make your First Appointment?

Most obstetricians (and other pregnancy caregivers) schedule the first prenatal appointment for about the 8th or 9th week of pregnancy. However, if you have any medical conditions that could cause complications; are showing symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea; or if you’ve had problems with previous pregnancies, you should definitely go in earlier for a checkup.

What to Expect at this Appointment

If yours is an OB-GYN, he/she already has records of the regularity of your menstrual cycles, past illnesses and other gynecological issues, and your general medical history. If you’re seeing a new doctor, you will have to provide this information, details of any previous pregnancies, personal habits that could influence your pregnancy - drinking, smoking, etc., and the first date of your last menstrual cycle to determine your due date.

Barring complications, your first appointment will be the longest and the remaining appointments will include ultrasounds, tests and other follow up procedures to monitor your health and that of the fetus.

Questions to ask your Obstetrician

Especially if this is your first pregnancy, there are gonna be a ton of questions you’ll want to ask your obstetrician, ranging from the simple and silly to the serious. Don’t be afraid to ask either. Some important questions you definitely want to address are:

• What should you expect over the course of pregnancy and delivery? What are the complications that could arise?
• Based on your family(s) medical history, which screening tests should you consider for the fetus?
• What are the different birth options?
• What is your doctor’s stand on pain relief during labour? Would using them have any side effects on you or your baby?

Choosing your Obstetrician

Your health and that of your baby is in the hands of your obstetrician, so besides their qualifications, experience and recommendations, you have to feel comfortable with them and trust them completely. If you don’t, consider finding a new doctor. If you’re looking for an obstetrician in San Antonio, expectant mothers should definitely check out the Institute for Women’s Health.

It’s that Time of Year, Ladies...Time to See Your Gynecologist

Visiting your gynecologist is one of those things in your yearly to-do list...you may not like it, but it’s definitely a must do. Considering the delicate mechanism that is the human body in general, and the major changes a woman’s body goes through as she goes from hitting puberty to pregnancy and menopause, getting yourself regularly checked out to make sure you’re in the best health is not something you should compromise on.

When should you see a Gynecologist?

Ideally, your first appointment should be scheduled for between the ages of 13 and 15 years. While most people begin regular appointments in their late teens or after they become sexually active, it is more advisable to begin early as it helps you understand the changes your body will go through and establish what is and is not normal for you personally. Barring complications or illnesses, a yearly visit to your gynecologist is usually enough.

It’s your First Visit? Here’s What Happens

Your first visit is going to have the usual questions about your medical history and that of your family...but it’s also going to feature very personal questions. Since your gynecologist is responsible for the health of your reproductive system, you need to be prepared to be completely honest about questions surrounding your menstrual cycle, physical health, sexual activity, etc.

The physical exam portion has four basic elements - a general physical exam where the doctor checks your height, weight, blood pressure, etc. This is followed by a breast exam to check for lumps and abnormalities; a pelvic exam to visually check for signs of infection or STDs and physically check the health of your cervix, uterus and ovaries; and a pap smear to check for abnormal cells indicative of cancer in the cervix.

Never hold back on questions about anything ranging from what’s happening down there to your sex life - if you’re wondering about something or something doesn’t feel right, don’t think twice about bringing it up with your doctor!

Have you Found the Right Gynecologist?

Considering the personal nature of these visits, you want your doctor to be a qualified expert but also be able to discuss things without your feeling like you’re being judged...if you don’t feel absolutely comfortable, shop around for a new one! If you’re looking for a gynecologist in San Antonio, visit the Institute for Women’s Health.

Every woman needs an OB-GYN. Have you found Yours?

Beginning when a girl hits puberty and then journeying through physical maturity, pregnancy, and menopause, the changes a woman’s body goes through are substantial; and you need a trained professional to be there through those stages - sometimes you need a gynecologist, others you need an obstetrician. And sometimes (more frequently today), the same doctor is both - an OB-GYN.

What’s the difference between a Gynecologist and an Obstetrician?

A gynecologist focusses on a woman’s reproductive care; you go to him/her for routine checkups of your reproductive system (vagina, ovaries and uterus), infections and fertility-related issues, mammograms and pap-smears, consultations on birth control ann menopause, etc. Women ideally start seeing a gynecologist from 13-15 years or once they become sexually active.

An obstetrician’s focus is on pregnant women and the fetus itself. They take care of the pre-, during, and post-natal care of the mother and baby.

The most essential difference is that gynecologists treat diseases in reproductive organs while obstetricians do not. In most cases however, training in gynecology and obstetrics go together, resulting in a combined specialization - an OB-GYN.

What can you expect in an OB-GYN appointment?

For a first appointment, the nurse/doctor will take your basic medical history and conduct a general health check for their records. This will be followed by a physical exterior and interior examination of your reproductive system for overall health, abnormalities, and indications of any diseases, infections and cancers. Any routine appointment will include these checks, along with a pap-smear, breast check and mammogram, at the required intervals.

If you’re pregnant, your appointment will vary to include sonograms, etc. to keep track of your and your baby’s health and development.

Find your OB-GYN

For such a personal (and long-term) doctor, you don’t want to just pick a name out of a book...you want someone you know is good and reliable. Take personal and professional recommendations into account while choosing. Another point to consider when choosing is whether your OB-GYN offers both services or sticks with one speciality.

OB-GYN in San Antonio

The largest OB-GYN practice in the San Antonio area, the Institute for Women’s Health is every woman’s answer to health care. With a comprehensive list of services and a staff of fully qualified professionals, they work to keep every woman in the best health through every stage of their lives.

Everything You Need to Know About Knee Replacement Surgery

In order to live a healthy and active lifestyle, good knees are essential! However, when suffer from an injury or arthritis occurs, particularly osteoarthritis, your ability to bend and flex your knees can become restricted due to damage, inflammation and pain. If not taken care of properly, the damage can progress, making life so much more difficult and painful.

Deterioration of your joint and surrounding tissue can make it quite difficult to perform basic daily activities, even while you sit or lie down. While cartilage wears down and bone rubs against bone, pain and reduced mobility follow.

Knee replacement surgery is a common solution that provides dramatic pain relief for more than 90 percent of patients. The vast majority of knee replacement procedures are used to treat osteoarthritis. The procedure which was introduced in 1968, relies on a mechanical implant to replace severely arthritic or damaged knee joints. Total knee replacement (TKR), also called total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is considered one of the safest and most effective procedures in orthopedics.

Two different types of knee replacement exist: total and partial.

Total Knee Replacement

Total Knee Replacement makes up about 90 percent of all knee replacement procedures. During TKR, a surgeon plans to repair your knee joint by covering the thighbone with a metal covering and encasing the shinbone with plastic. The prosthesis replaces the rough and irregular surfaces of the worn bone with smooth surfaces. In many cases, the surgeon can also replace the undersurface of your kneecap with a plastic surface. This further reduces pain and provides a smoother functioning joint. If this is an option you are considering, it’s important to remember that the procedure involves some removal of bone and cartilage. This is a major surgery!

After a TKR, you should expect to spend three to five days at the hospital. Doctors will recommend you begin weight-bearing therapy immediately following the operation. In addition, you will undergo some combination of physical and occupational therapy starting at the hospital.  In most cases, you will likely be able to stand and walk, at least with the assistance of a cane or walker, before you leave the hospital.

Starting in the hospital, and usually before you exit the operating room, your knee may be cradled in a passive motion machine and medical staff will monitor the flexion (bending in) and extension (extending out) limits of your knee. After discharge, it is probably you will go home for recovery and rehabilitation.

Some patients require home health care or assistance. Your doctor will most likely prescribe physical therapy at a local clinic for continued rehabilitation and the physical therapist there will then suggest exercises you can perform at home. Most patients conclude rehabilitation within eight weeks, of course it varies on the individual, eventually you should be able to move around without assistance and resume of your daily activities.

Partial Knee Replacement

If you receive a partial knee replacement, your surgeon will replace only the part of your knee that’s damaged or arthritic. The advantage to this type of procedure is that it requires a smaller incision, involves less bone and blood loss and consequently produces less pain. Patients undergoing partial knee replacement tend to experience a faster recovery time than those who have TKR. However, there are disadvantages, including the possibility that you will have to eventually undergo further surgery if arthritis develops in the parts of the knee that are not replaced.

Risks, Complications, and Considerations

Today, knee replacements are considered safe. Very few patients experience complications. The most common surgical complication is infection, which has been documented to occur in fewer than 2 percent of patients. When complications do occur, they may include: infection, blood clots, a problem with the implant, or persistent pain and damage to the blood vessels surrounding the knee as a result of the surgery. Thoroughly discuss the benefits and risks of TKR with your surgeon before making any decision about a procedure. You may also want to evaluate other considerations, such as: financial issues (the cost of surgery, follow-up care, and time off from work), hospital quality, and what to expect from your new knee.

TKR is an increasingly attractive and viable option if you happen to be dealing with chronic knee pain or unable to participate in common activities. Approximately 90 percent of the replacement joints last 10 years. In about 80 percent of cases, it functions for 20 years. This can depend heavily on your age and level of activity. Seniors, who are less likely to put their new joint under regular stress, wear the joint down less than relatively younger patients who are more active.

After a knee replacement, there’s a high probability that you will once again participate in activities such as walking, bicycling, golf, tennis and swimming. As the pain subsides and the ability to use your knee returns, your quality of life will most likely improve!

The quality and speed of your recovery depends both on your efforts in physical therapy and the skill of your surgeon. That is why it is so important to carefully select who performs your surgery. The South Texas Spinal Clinic in San Antonio has trained and certified surgeons who can perform the different types of knee replacement procedures you may need. Not to mention, they will provide the appropriate treatment for you in order to recover from these type of procedures as soon as possible.

Cervical Neck Pain - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

The cervical spine is an interesting and complex structure. It is capable of supporting a head weighing 15 or more pounds while moving in several directions. No other region of the spine has such freedom of movement! This combination however, complexity and mobility, make the neck susceptible to pain and injury.

The causes of neck pain vary. Injury and accidents as well as the natural aging process are the two most common causes of neck pain.

Whiplash is a common injury sustained during an auto accident. This is typically termed a hyperextension and/or hyperflexion injury because the head is forced to move backward and/or forward rapidly beyond the neck's normal range of motion. A motion such as a whiplash is one injury that can result in a significant amount of pain to someone’s neck. The unnatural and forceful movement affects the muscles and ligaments in the neck. The muscles will react by tightening and contracting creating muscle fatigue resulting in pain and stiffness.

Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease are known to affect the spine. These conditions, while not entirely unheard of in younger individuals, occur most commonly in seniors.

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder causing progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming new bone termed osteophytes (bone spurs) that impact joint motion.

Spinal stenosis causes the foramen, small neural passageways, to narrow possibly compressing and entrapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause serious neck, shoulder, and arm pain and numbness when these nerves are unable to function normally.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can cause the intervertebral discs to become less hydrated, resulting in decreased disc elasticity and height. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate causing upper extremity pain, tingling, and numbness.

Everyday life can, unfortunately, impact your spinal health over time. Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles disrupt the spine's balance often causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Not to mention, stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract resulting in pain and stiffness.

Although neck pain is commonly caused by strain, prolonged pain and/or neurologic deficit may be an indication of something more serious. These symptoms should not be ignored at any point in time. Spinal infection, spinal cord compression, tumor, fracture, and other disorders can occur. If head injury has been sustained, more than likely the neck will be dramatically affected as well. It is wise to seek medical attention promptly.

What are the symptoms of cervical neck pain?

If there is any numbness, tingling, tenderness, sharp shooting pain, fullness, difficulty swallowing, pulsations, swishing sounds in the head, dizziness or lightheadedness, and lymph node (gland) swelling. Depending how bad the condition is, sometimes neck pain is accompanied by upper back and/or lower back pain, as is common in inflammation of the spine from ankylosing spondylitis.

How can cervical neck pain be treated?

The treatment of neck pain depends on its precise cause. Treatment options include rest, heat or cold applications, traction, soft-collar traction, physical therapy (ultrasound, massage, manipulation), local injections of cortisone or anesthetics, topical anesthetic creams, topical pain-relief patches, muscle relaxants, analgesics, and surgical procedures.

Home remedies for treatment, include Jacuzzi treatment, neck pain relief exercises and stretches, and neck pain relief products such as neck pillows for sleep and hot pads can be very beneficial for relief of some forms of chronic neck pain. There are various treatment options, depending on the particular neck problem and past treatment experiences. There is also the option of alternative treatments that have been used for chronic neck pain that include acupuncture.

What is the recovery process?

Take things easy. If you're like most people, you probably live a busy, hectic life. If you're living with cervical neck pain and have increased pain from injury or muscle pain, it's important to temporarily ease back on intense activities. While you are resting, find a comfortable position, preferably one that causes you the least amount of neck pain. You can place a rolled up towel or a pillow under your neck to help keep your neck in a neutral position. Resting doesn't mean crawling into bed and remaining perfectly still, however. Staying immobile for more than a day or two actually can be harmful because it can decondition the muscles that support your neck and actually increase neck pain in the long run. While your neck is in a healing stage, adjust your activity level to what you can comfortably handle. As you improve, it’s best to gradually increase your activity level back to normal.

Stretching can actually enhance the neck’s strength and give it flexibility. Once you have permission to perform a few stretching exercises from your doctor, do so. It's best to perform these exercises after warming up muscles with a warm shower, bath, or towel.

Exercising is proven to be an effective way to treat neck pain. It's also important to keep active in general. 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, biking, swimming) every day can improve blood flow, nourishing your spine to keep it healthy. Speak to your doctor, physical therapist, or a personal trainer with expertise in working with people with neck pain to determine the right exercises for you.

Lastly, keeping a good posture is crucial and you should think about how you sit throughout the day. When sitting at the computer or watching television, don’t lean forward or stress your neck by looking downward at your cell phone.

Why wait another day to get rid of any neck pain you may have? Neck pain can impact all aspects of your life so getting prompt, effective care is key. At the South Texas Spinal Clinic in San Antonio, there are certified and trained physicians who are capable of treating patients with the right care and treatment they may need.