Orthopedics
The staff at North Okaloosa Physician Group provides treatment for a wide range of orthopedic conditions and diseases. Orthopedic surgeons and specialists handle everything from a torn muscle or broken bone to a range of joint replacement procedures and minimally invasive surgery.
Orthopedic specialists can provide care for patients with a range of orthopedic conditions, including:
- Arthritis and joint disease
- Fractures, sprains, strains and damage to tendons, ligaments and muscles
- Leg, knee, ankle and foot conditions, including ACL injuries and more
- Repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tennis elbow and DeQuervain’s syndrome
- Sports injuries
Joint Replacement
Advances in medical technology have made joint replacement an effective option to treat chronic joint pain from osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases or injury. Through surgery, the diseased or damaged joint is replaced with an artificial joint implant that can reduce pain and swelling and increase mobility.
The multidisciplinary orthopedic care team at North Okaloosa Physician Group includes doctors, orthopedic surgeons, pain management specialists and physical therapists who provide care. We offer surgical procedures for joints including:
- Total joint replacement or joint repair surgery
- Knee replacement
- Elbow replacement
- Hip replacement
- Shoulder replacement
- Hip resurfacing
- Minimally invasive options
Joint replacement is usually recommended as a treatment for severe joint pain and to repair a dysfunctional joint or one showing the effects of arthritis or other issues, such as cartilage being worn away which causes uncomfortable friction of the joint.
Part of orthopedic care includes preparing patients properly before joint replacement surgery, as well as helping them recover their mobility through rehabilitation services such as physical therapy. You’ll know what to expect before, during and after the surgery. Orthopedic care professionals are focused on providing quality care from diagnosis through recovery.
Shoulder Care
Think about the range of motion permitted by the shoulder joint. The fact that the shoulder is the most movable and flexible joint in the body also means it is one of the most fragile. Many chronic shoulder problems can be traced to over-use motions – typically repeated overhead movements that are common in certain occupations.
Weekend athletes and do-it-yourself-ers can also be affected by the routine motions required to golf, play tennis, swim, lift weights or work on common construction projects. The most likely causes of shoulder pain include tendonitis, bursitis and an inflamed rotator cuff.
Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of flat tendons that together wrap around the front, back and top of the shoulder. These tendons attach muscles that originate on the shoulder blade or scapula, and allow the shoulder its wide range of motions. The passages the tendons travel through can be quite narrow in some people, and repetitive motions can cause the surrounding structures to become irritated and inflamed, possibly leading to a rotator cuff tear. An irritated rotator cuff can sometimes cause a feeling of clicking or popping as a ragged piece of the cuff slides under the shoulder bone.
Tendonitis
When a tendon is constantly irritated, by repeated rubbing against the shoulder bone for example, it can become inflamed and swollen, leaving even less space between the tendons and the bone. Picture a rope being repeatedly pulled along a craggy rock. This inflammation of a tendon is called tendonitis.
Bursitis
A bursa is a fluid-filled structure that acts as a shock-absorber or cushion in many of the joints in the body. In the shoulder, they cushion the rotator cuff from the shoulder bone. If the rotator cuff becomes inflamed, it can irritate the bursa, causing the bursa to produce more fluid, pressure and pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis is less common in the shoulder than in the knee or hip, but it does occur. The cartilage surfaces on the bones can wear away over time, or become damaged from an injury or infection. The arthritis can cause a roughening of the joint surfaces, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Several treatment options that may be effective for shoulder pain include:
- Cold and heat therapy
- Rest
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Shoulder surgery
Shoulder surgery may be recommended for some shoulder problems including arthritis, shoulder instability, or a torn rotator cuff. Thanks to recent advances in techniques and technology, many shoulder surgeries can be done arthroscopically. This allows the surgeon to see and work inside the joint through a few small incisions, and is most often an outpatient procedure.
In some cases, such as with advanced arthritis of the shoulder, a shoulder replacement may be recommended. Shoulder replacement involves resurfacing the areas of the bones that meet in the shoulder joint. The ball-shaped end of the upper arm or humerus is replaced with a metal component, while the socket shaped glenoid cavity of the shoulder blade is relined with special plastic.
Shoulder replacement can often offer improved strength and range of motion, as well as reduced pain. With any surgery there are risks and these need to be fully discussed with your doctor. Shoulder replacement is usually performed at a hospital using general anesthesia, though regional anesthesia may be an option for some patients. Your doctor and anesthesiologist will discuss which option is best for you.
Sports Medicine
Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, sports-related injuries can slow you down and keep you from participating in the activities you love. Sports injuries require special medical attention, and orthopedic physicians and surgeons are trained to treat athletes of all ages. Sports medicine-based health care ranges from surgery, physician assessments and physical therapy to prescription medicine and fitness and nutrition recommendations.
The sports medicine specialists at North Okaloosa Physician Group diagnose and treat athletes with a wide range of sports-related injuries. The medical team works closely with orthopedics physicians, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists and athletic trainers to help patients get back to training and playing their sports and activities as quickly as possible. We offer advanced diagnosis and medical treatment for athletes with a variety of sports medicine needs, including:
- Dislocations
- Sprains, strains and fractures
- Neuromas and other nerve conditions
- Ligament and muscle injuries and tears
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Shin splints
- Tendonitis