Total Hip Replacement Doctor Baltimore Treats Hip Pain

Your hip is the ball-and-socket joint where the pelvis and the femur meet.  Damage to this joint can be debilitating, and severe damage can need treatment from a total hip replacement doctor Baltimore.

Total hip replacement doctor Baltimore evaluates joint damage

Common conditions that can lead to hip pain and limited range of motion in your hip include osteoarthritis and hip fractures.  Osteoarthrosis is a chronic, degenerative condition that breaks down joint cartilage.  A hip fracture is a break in the top part of the femur.  Your hip replacement doctor Baltimore will determine the cause of your hip pain based on your symptoms, your medical history, a physical exam, and diagnostic tests.  Diagnostic tests used by your hip replacement doctor Baltimore can include:

• Imaging tests: Tests such as x-rays or MRIs can show fractures and other damage to the joint.
• Arthroscopy: During this procedure, your hip replacement doctor Baltimore MD inserts a tiny camera into the joint.  The images sent from the camera help him or her evaluate the severity of the damage to your joint.

Based on your symptoms, exams, and diagnostic tests, your hip replacement doctor Baltimore may recommend total hip replacement surgery Baltimore or other treatments if the damage is not severe.  Some types of hip fractures can be treated with metal devices to strengthen and stabilize the joint.  Osteoarthritis gets worse overtime, so if the disease is in early stages your hip replacement doctor Baltimore MD may recommend treatments such as assistive devices, medication, and physical therapy.

Total hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD

For a severely damaged hip joint, your hip replacement doctor Baltimore MD may recommend total hip replacement surgery Baltimore.  During hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD, your doctor removes the damaged parts of the joint and replaces them with artificial parts.  Some hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD patients are candidates for a minimally invasive procedure that uses only small incisions and some will need a more traditional procedure that uses one, longer incision.  Recovery from hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD can take several months.  Visit www.medstarunionortho.org to learn more about total hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD.

Total Hip Replacement Doctor Baltimore can Treat Osteoarthritis

A total hip replacement doctor Baltimore is an expert in treating severe pain and limited range of motion in the hip.  This pain can have different causes, but the most common condition to need a total hip replacement Baltimore MD is osteoarthritis.

Cartilage breakdown can need total hip replacement Baltimore MD

There are many different types of arthritis but osteoarthrosis is the most common one.  It is a chronic disease that involves the breakdown of joint cartilage.  Cartilage is a material that covers and protects the ends of bones.  When it wears down, bone ends can rub painfully and sometimes thicken and form grows called spurs.  It occurs most often in the hands, knees, hip, and spine.  When the hip is affected, hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD may be needed.

Symptoms that hip replacement Baltimore may be necessary

Symptoms of osteoarthritis usually start mild and do not need total hip replacement surgery Baltimore until they become severe, which can take years.  Symptoms that you may someday need treatment from a hip replacement doctor Baltimore include:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Limited movement in the joint
• Grinding feeling when moving the joint

Total hip replacement doctor Baltimore may recommend other treatments

Before recommending total hip replacement Baltimore MD to treat your osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend non-surgical treatments such as:

• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Heat treatment
• Physical therapy
• Weight loss
• Medicines
• Injections into the joint

Total hip replacement surgery Baltimore

When non-surgical treatments do not help and symptoms become severe, it may be time for total hip replacement Baltimore.  During this procedure, your hip replacement doctor Baltimore MD removes the damaged parts of the hip joint and replaces them with a prosthesis.  The prosthesis used in total hip replacement Baltimore MD includes a stem that fits into the thigh bone, a ball that fits on the stem, and a cup that is inserted into the socket.  Sometimes your hip replacement doctor Baltimore can complete this procedure using a minimally invasive procedure that uses smaller incisions and has a shorter recovery time.

Full recovery from total hip replacement Baltimore can take several weeks.  Many people find that after recovery they have normal mobility and can lead normal lives, but after hip replacement surgery Baltimore MD you will also have to be especially careful to avoid falls and activities that can damage your artificial joint.

Procedure for Severe Back Pain Baltimore MD Caused by Scoliosis

Scoliosis is when the spine is curved when viewed from the back.  A small degree of curvature may not need treatment, but larger curves may require a procedure for severe back pain Baltimore MD.

What causes scoliosis?

Usually, the cause of scoliosis is unknown.  When there is a known cause it can be:

• Marfan’s syndrome
• Cerebral palsy
• Birth defects
• Injury
• Infection
• Tumors

Symptoms that fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD may be necessary

In addition to the abnormal curve in the spine, symptoms that you may have scoliosis and may need a procedure for severe back pain Baltimore include:

• Difference in shoulder height
• Head not centered with the rest of the body
• Difference in hip height
• When standing straight, the arms hang differently
• When bending forward, sides of the back appear different in height

Diagnosing the need for a procedure for severe back pain Baltimore MD

A physical exam and x-rays are the main ways that doctors diagnose scoliosis that may need a procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD.  Your doctor will use images such as x-rays and MRIs to determine the curvature of your spine.  Curves of less than 20 degrees usually do not need treatment.

Scoliosis treatment

A curve of less than 45 degrees is more likely to be treated with non-surgical methods instead of a surgical procedure for severe back pain Baltimore.  The goal of scoliosis treatment is usually to stop the progression of the curve and to prevent deformity.  The first treatment for scoliosis is usually observation and repeated exams.  This can help determine if the curve is getting worse.  Curves that are getting worse usually require bracing.  The type of brace and the time spent in it will depend on the severity of the condition and if the person is still growing.

Surgical procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD

A surgical procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD may be recommended if the curve is more than 45 degrees and bracing is not slowing the curve.  Surgery for scoliosis usually includes the fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD.  When they fuse small vertebrae together Baltimore MD, 2 or more vertebrae are connected using a bone graft or an artificial bone-like substance.

Fuse Small Vertebrae Together Baltimore MD to Treat Back Pain

Your spinal column is made up of small bones called vertebrae that are separated by discs to allow for movement.  The vertebrae protect your spinal cord, which is responsible for carrying information between your brain and the rest of your body.  When conditions cause vertebrae to move against each other more than usual, it can lead to back pain. Sometimes, doctors can limit movement and pain by doing a procedure that allows them to fuse small vertebrae together Baltimore MD.

Conditions treated with a procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD

There are many different conditions that can lead to severe back pain that may be alleviated with the fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD.  These can include:

• Degenerative disc diseases
• Spinal stenosis
• Fractures
• Herniated discs
• Scoliosis

Fuse small vertebrae together Baltimore MD

The fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD uses bone or an artificial bone-like material to permanently attach 2 or more vertebrae so they no longer move.  This procedure for severe back pain Baltimore MD can be done on the top, middle, or bottom part of the spinal column. Depending on your condition and the location of your back pain, this procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD can sometimes be done using a minimally invasive procedure.  Minimally invasive fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery which can mean a shorter recovery time.

After your fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD

It can take a few months after your fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD for the bone graft the vertebrae to become one solid piece.  During the procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD, your surgeon will place metal plates and screws to help keep it stable while it heals.

After your procedure to heal painful small back bones Baltimore MD, you may have decreased flexibility in your spine.  This usually is not a problem immediately, but over time this limited mobility can lead to added stress on nearby parts of the spine.  You can learn more about the fusion of small back bones Baltimore MD at www.medstarunionortho.org.