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Joint Replacement

Should I See a Rheumatologist or an Orthopedic Doctor?

There is some confusion when it comes to finding a medical specialist. Many different fields of medicine have a certain degree of overlap, making it difficult to decide which specialist to go to. At Paris Orthopedic, some of our specialties include bone and joint health, making our field of orthopedic medicine coincide with some elements of rheumatology. To help you make the best decision for your health, we’re explaining the key differences between these two disciplines of medicine to help you discern whether to see a rheumatologist or an orthopedic doctor.

What Does a Rheumatologist Do?

One of the most significant differences between a rheumatologist and an orthopedic doctor is their specialty when it comes to treating arthritis and joint pain. Rheumatologists focus on the internal medical aspects of inflammatory autoimmune disorders, including the causes, the impact on the body, and any necessary treatments. While rheumatologists are experts in all types of arthritis conditions, they also research and treat other conditions, including fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus. Because many of these autoimmune disorders attack the body’s connective tissues, musculoskeletal system, and organs, a rheumatologist can make a diagnosis and provide applicable non-surgical treatments. 

What Does an Orthopedic Doctor Do?

Orthopedists, on the other hand, specialize in the disorders, injuries, prevention, treatment, and repair associated with the skeletal system. Both orthopedic doctors and surgeons are specially trained in the diagnosis and treating bone and joint disease. Treatments administered by orthopedists include but are not limited to non-surgical options such as physical therapy and prescription medication. In certain cases, surgeries like joint replacement procedures can relieve pain and improve mobility. If surgery becomes necessary, an orthopedic specialist is the provider for the job. 

Deciding What’s Best for You

Deciding between an orthopedic doctor and a rheumatologist starts by identifying the root of the issue. The most significant overlap between these two specialties is arthritis’s role as both an inflammatory autoimmune disorder and an effect on the musculoskeletal system. While a rheumatologist may help identify what is causing your joint pain and help discern whether the cause is arthritis or a different autoimmune disorder, an orthopedic doctor can provide more treatment options. Orthopedic doctors are especially knowledgeable when it comes to joint pain following trauma or helping to treat joints that have suffered prolonged wear and tear from arthritis or other conditions. 

The Paris Orthopedics Difference

At Paris Orthopedics, we prioritize exhausting all non-surgical options before proceeding with surgical treatments. This means that there may be additional overlap between the treatments provided by a rheumatologist, such as physical therapy, bracing, cortisone injections, and anti-inflammatory drugs. If your condition doesn’t respond to these initial treatment methods, our team can discuss surgical options with you, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to open surgery. If joint replacement is ultimately the most effective option, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the best care at Paris Orthopedics. With this procedure, you can look forward to less pain, improved mobility, and restored joint function.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about bone health, arthritis, or whether to see a rheumatologist or an orthopedic doctor for your joint pain, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

General Ortho

What is Causing Your Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain is one of the most commonly complained-about ailments, with around four out of every five reporting this pain at some point in their lives. The lower back, also known as the lumbar spine, is a structure of interconnecting bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles that all work together. The lower back provides support, strength, and flexibility and ultimately helps keep us upright. Still, due to the complex nature of our lumbar spine, it can be susceptible to injury and pain. In this blog, we’re taking a closer look at potential causes of your lower back pain and sharing viable solutions.

Muscle and Ligament Strains

Lower back pain is often a result of muscle or ligament strain or sprains that can occur suddenly or develop slowly over time. A muscle strain happens when the muscle is stretched too far, which causes a tear. A muscle sprain occurs when over-stretching and tearing cause damage to the ligaments, which help connect the bones. Some of the most common causes of lower back sprains and strains include:

  • Lifting a heavy object or lifting with improper form, like twisting the spine while lifting
  • Sudden movements that put too much pressure on the lower back, such as an accident, or a fall
  • Repeating a specific movement over a prolonged period of time
  • Poor posture
  • Sports injuries, especially high-impact sports like football or sports that require twisting

Chronic Back Pain Conditions

The body’s natural healing process for lower back injuries can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. When pain in the lower back persists for longer than three months, the pain can be classified as chronic and may involve more issues than just a sprain or a strain. Causes of chronic back pain may include:

  • Problems with discs: Lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar herniated disc are two different conditions that may lead to herniation or inflammation
  • Problems with joints: Facet joint dysfunction, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and osteoarthritis all target the joints, leading to lower back pain
  • Fractures: Trauma may cause acute fractures or dislocations that lead to pain, and osteoporosis may even lead to a compression fracture over time

Lower Back Pain Treatment Options

Early treatment options for back pain align with early treatment recommendations for other sports injuries. The first course of action typically calls for rest, ice and heat therapy, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Cold packs and pain relievers both work to reduce inflammation, while hot water bottles and heating pads improve blood flow. Depending on the cause of your lower back pain, light stretching can also be therapeutic, but it’s important to consult a doctor to determine the root cause of the issue first.

If back pain does not improve over time, then you may require additional treatments. At Paris Orthopedic Specialists, we believe in exhausting all non-surgical treatments whenever possible, so if you are experiencing lower back pain, physical therapy, back braces, and steroid injections may be able to help. While injections and prescription-strength pain relievers may temporarily reduce pain, physical therapy can help identify and treat the underlying cause of the pain. If you have been experiencing chronic back pain, contact a provider at Paris Orthopedics to learn more about suitable treatment options.  

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you are experiencing chronic pain of any kind, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

 

Injury Prevention

6 Ways to Protect Your Knees During Sports

If you are experiencing pain in your knees, or if you’ve already had a knee injury, taking steps to protect your knees during sports is an important habit to develop. The knees are one of the most commonly complained about joints in the body, and so many different types of sports rely on these joints to start, stop, and pivot. At Paris Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, our providers specialize in diagnosing and treating knee conditions of all severity levels, from sprains to torn ACLs. In this blog, we’re explaining some of the ways you can protect your knees during sports.

Effective Warm Ups & Cool Downs

If you’re running behind, or you’re just eager to get into the action, it can be easy to skip a warm-up and jump straight into the game. However, to preserve the health and longevity of your knees, thorough warm-ups and cool-downs are essential in protecting your knees and other muscles in the body. Prior to the game, match, or outing, take a few extra moments to warm up your body and stretch. Even a couple of minutes can help protect your knees during sports.

Take Your Time

Whether you’ve been injured and are returning to your sport, or you’re coming in from the off-season, it is important to take your time getting back into shape. As much as you may think you can lift the same amount of weight or run the same amount of mileage, it’s a better idea to start small and then work your way up. Focus on conditioning and adding weight slowly to help strengthen any muscles and avoid future injuries.

Change Up Your Routine 

Knee injuries are common in runners, but you may feel forced into running on an injury if you are training for a marathon or race. You can avoid overworking by changing up your training routine with other activities that aren’t so hard on the knees, like cycling or swimming. Both of these activities are excellent for building endurance and strengthening muscles so you can keep training without putting as much stress on your knees.

Use the Proper Equipment

Improper or faulty equipment can lead to injuries in any sport, so if you’re recovering from an injury or actively working to protect your knees during sports, your gear should be in good condition. This includes wearing proper footwear and also investing in knee braces or wraps if necessary.

Don’t Under-Estimate the RICE Protocol

RICE, an acronym for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, is the baseline for caring for injuries. While an orthopedic specialist should look at persistent pain, swelling, or tenderness, minor injuries, as well as recovering injuries, can always benefit from this tried and true protocol.

Keep Communicating with a Professional

If you are working to protect your knees during sports, working with a trainer, physical therapist, or one of the specialists at Paris Orthopedics can help you stay active while remaining healthy. Injuries should be examined on a case-by-case basis, so it’s important that you receive personalized care and instructions before returning to your sport. Contact a staff member at Paris Orthopedics today for any questions about knee injuries or recovering injuries.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about how you can protect your knees during sports or other activities, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

Sports Medicine

Top Five Sports-Related Orthopedic Injuries

Whether they’re training or competing, athletes are at a higher risk of getting injured. At Paris Orthopedics, we specialize in the treatment and prevention of these sports-related orthopedic injuries. While there are ways to minimize this risk, such as staying hydrated, stretching, and getting the appropriate amount of rest, there is no way to eliminate the possibility of injury. If you find yourself with a sudden, nagging, or reoccurring sports injury, the providers at Paris Orthopedic are here to help. We are committed to helping our patients overcome and avoid these conditions through proper diagnosis, treatment, and education. While we treat a wide array of conditions, some sports injuries are more common than others. This is why we’re taking time to outline the most common sports-related orthopedic injuries 

Ankle Sprains

Sprained ankles are an incredibly common sports injury, with an estimated 2 million occurring each year in the United States. In fact, nearly half of all ankle sprains occur while taking part in an athletic activity. While sprained ankles can typically be mended at home with ice and rest, they can potentially result in tendon or ligament tears that may require professional medical attention. 

Shoulder Injury

Many different types of shoulder injuries can occur while playing sports. Shoulder instability, impingement, frozen shoulder, and rotator cuff tears are all conditions specialists can treat at Paris Orthopedics. Sports that most commonly cause shoulder injuries include football, weight lifting, swimming, and volleyball. 

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee is caused by overuse of the joint in the knee, leading to stress on the tendon below the kneecap. Because Paris Orthopedics aims to exhaust all conservative treatment options first, the initial treatment plan typically consists of ice, elevation, and rest, with the possible addition of short-term medication. Once the inflammation has subsided, physical therapy can help restore your knee’s strength and range of motion. If the cause of runner’s knee is due to underlying problems with the cartilage, then surgical options may be the best option.

Tennis Elbow/Golfer’s Elbow

The degeneration of the tendon on the outside of the elbow is commonly referred to as either tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow since both of these sports require repetitive motions of the wrists and arm that can lead to overuse of the tendon. This condition is typically painful but fortunately can be treated by non-surgical options most of the time. If standard ice and rest practices are not effective, cortisone injections and physical therapy may be able to help. If symptoms do not improve over time, contact a provider at Paris Orthopedics.

Ligament/Tendon Tears

Ligaments, muscles, and tendons are present in every area of the body, making it possible for an athlete to suffer a strain or tear while playing sports. While specific treatments depend on the area and the severity of the teat, general rest, elevation, and ice are recommended initial courses of action. Seek medical attention if you hear a popping sound or if you’re unable to walk.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about sports-related orthopedic injuries, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

 

Pediatric Ortho

What to Do If Your Child Breaks a Bone

With summer in full swing, we have the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. Particularly with the kids out of school, they’re likely spending their free time playing sports, catching up with friends, and engaging in summertime activities. With this uptick in activity comes the possibility of injury, particularly bone fractures, in children. Most broken bones in kids are a result of falling, whether that’s falling off a bike, a horse, or even slipping while running or moving around the pool. If it’s your child’s first broken bone, they may not know how to react, leading to a delay in treatment. To ensure you’re getting your child the medical attention they need and promoting healthy bone repair and growth, we’re breaking down what to do if your child breaks a bone.

Signs the Bone Might be Broken

In our past blogs, we have discussed how tricky it can be to self-diagnose your own broken bone, but it can be even more challenging to diagnose a broken bone in your child. Some indications of a broken bone include hearing a cracking sound or a snap, but if you weren’t around your child at the time of the fracture, there’s no way of knowing how the fracture happened or how it sounded. Fortunately, there are other signs to look for that would indicate a broken bone. Some of these signs include:

  • Bruising, discoloration, or swelling
  • Crookedness or deformation
  • The inability or unwillingness to move or put weight on the injured area

If you can identify any of these signs in your child, seek medical attention immediately. Leaving a broken bone untreated can lead to the bone healing incorrectly, which can leave your child with mobility problems down the line. Keep in mind that an injury that doesn’t immediately look like a fracture may end up being a broken bone. In some cases, your child may still be able to use the injured area immediately after the break, or the swelling may not take place until a couple of hours after the initial injury. If your child is still reporting pain after several hours, it’s a good idea to get the injury checked out just in case.

What to Do If Your Child Breaks a Bone

After you’ve suspected your child has broken a bone, head straight to the emergency room. You can make the trip more comfortable by propping up the injured area with a towel or pillow and using an ice pack to reduce swelling. If the fracture is more severe, resulting in your child being in too much pain to move, or if the broken bone protrudes from the skin, it’s better to call an ambulance rather than drive your child to the hospital yourself. Moving your child in the event of a severe fracture may make the injury worse.

Follow-Up Care

In addition to the cast, splint, or other treatment ordered by a doctor, there are additional steps you can take to promote recovery. Ensuring that your child receives a nutritious diet with calcium and vitamin D can help support healthy bone development. It’s also essential that you go to all necessary follow-up appointments to avoid growth-plate fracture, a condition more common in children that occurs when the layer of growing soft tissue is damaged. For any complications with fractures or any questions about bone care, call Paris Orthopedics. Fracture care is one of our specialties, and one of our expert providers will be sure to give you and your child the highest quality of care.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about the broken bones or bone health, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

Joint Replacement

3 Treatment Options for Arthritis

Arthritis is a prevalent joint condition that affects nearly a quarter of all adults. While a large portion of the population deals with arthritis, there are many forms that develop from various causes. Fortunately, there are a couple of different treatment options available to best suit individual cases of arthritis. Depending on the type or severity of arthritis, treatments typically range from medication to surgical procedures. To help give you an idea of what may work best for you, we’re explaining three different treatment options for arthritis.

Medication

Arthritis can attack different areas of the body, which means that there are many kinds of remedies within each treatment category. This is certainly the case when it comes to medication. Depending on the type and severity of your arthritis, medications such as NSAIDs, painkillers, DMARDs, corticosteroids, or counterirritants may help. These medications come in various forms, including creams, ointments, injections, and pill forms. If you’re experiencing chronic pain associated with arthritis, contact your doctor to see if medication is the right option for you.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is also an effective way to increase mobility and range of motion in various areas of the body. Depending on your arthritis, a physical therapist may help teach you proper posture and body mechanics to reduce pain in your day-to-day life. They may also teach specific exercises to improve strength and flexibility. Working one on one with a physical therapist allows for an opportunity to discuss your specific form and severity of arthritis. These appointments also allow for personalized suggestions when it comes to extra support materials, such as braces or shoe inserts, in addition to specific instructions on hot and cold therapy practices to ease joint pain and stiffness.

Surgery

Joint Replacement

No matter if your joint pain is due to age, disease, or other causes, Paris Orthopedic offers joint replacement surgery to help you achieve a better quality of life. Depending on your specific needs, Paris Orthopedics provides both partial and total joint replacement procedures. Our team prefers to exhaust all non-surgical options first, but if these treatments are not effective, there are minimally invasive joint replacement procedures available. Some of these minimally invasive surgical options include joint realignment, ligament reconstruction, and arthroscopy, all of which are performed through tiny incisions rather than open surgery.

If your specific condition requires open surgery, you can be assured that you are in the hands of six skilled and experienced orthopedic surgeons. During joint replacement surgery, your surgeon will remove all or part of the damaged joint and place a prosthesis, a type of artificial joint, in its place. Before any surgery, either open or minimally invasive, you will have ample time to discuss with your provider to ensure the best possible treatment for you.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about joint pain, arthritis, or treatment plans, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

General Ortho

Is Your Footwear Causing your Foot Pain?

As the weather gets warmer, we all start to transition from our winter footwear to our summer footwear. While our cold-weather boots may be heavy and bulky, they’re typically more supportive and secure than many sandals and other warm-weather shoe styles. There are a number of criteria footwear needs to meet in order to be considered supportive. When choosing shoes, you should consider ankle, arch, and heel support as well as protection and shock absorption. Footwear that doesn’t meet these requirements can lead to foot pain, plantar fasciitis, blisters, strained tendons, and more. To help prepare you for the summer season, we are running through a list of instances where your footwear could be causing your foot pain. 

Flip Flops

As convenient as flip-flops may be, this popular summer style could single-handedly be causing your foot pain. Flip-flops flat-soled shoes don’t offer any support or stability. Prolonged wear may even affect how you walk or stand. In addition, running or jumping in flip-flops puts you at a higher risk of injury. A good alternative to this warm weather shoe style is a well-fitted supportive sandal with secure straps around the foot and ankle that is made out of a quality fabric like leather.

High Heels

High-heeled shoes put your feet in unnatural positions that can lead to pain and foot problems down the road. This style creates pressure on the toes and can disrupt your balance and increase the risk of injury like sprained or broken ankles. High-heeled shoes not only contribute to causing your foot pain while you wear them, but they may also cause foot pain even after you take them off.

Pointed Shoes

Shoes with a pointed toe also constrict the natural shape of your foot. By squeezing your toes together at the front of the shoe, this style can cause blisters, bunions, and even nerve pain. 

Old Athletic Shoes

While sneakers are typically one of the best options for supporting your feet, you can still run into issues over time when your shoes are worn out. At Paris Orthopedics, sports medicine is one of our specialties, so we regularly treat athletes that spend a lot of time on their feet. Depending on the sport, the appropriate footwear is designed to offer optimum support, motion control, and cushioning to minimize foot injuries. As a general rule of thumb, if the lining of your athletic shoe doesn’t bounce back when you press on it, it’s likely time to get a new pair of shoes.

Ill-Fitting Shoes

While there are specific shoe styles that lend themselves to be either better or worse for your feet, the primary element when it comes to foot health is the fit of the shoe. To get the correct fit, we recommend getting your feet measured. Shoe size may change as you age, and in many cases, feet are different sizes. Having a professional measure your feet will help ensure that you are optimizing the health of your foot. 

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

No matter what may be causing your foot pain, the team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is here to help. Our staff is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about the options available to treat shoulder pain, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

 

Injury Prevention

Exercising Through Pain: When to Keeping Going and When to Rest

Whether you’re new to working out or if you exercise regularly, it’s likely that you’ve experienced some form of pain. When it comes to fitness, the saying “no pain, no gain” is commonly used, and while there is some truth to this, it’s also essential to stay in tune with what your body needs. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish when your body should rest and when you should push through the pain to achieve your fitness goals. Because each body is unique, there’s no one size fits all answer when it comes to exercising through pain, so we urge you to review the following factors to decipher when to keep going and when you should rest.

Check-in with your body

Many athletes credit pushing past the pain of working out to create a breakthrough in their fitness goals. Both weight-bearing and cardiovascular exercise inflict stress on the body to help build endurance and strength. While exercising, some of the immediate “good” pain you may feel is commonly referred to as “the burn,” or you may become winded. It’s important to check in with your body throughout your workout, as you may also feel a burning sensation if your form is incorrect, which can lead to injury. It’s also important to slow down or rest if you feel lightheaded or dizzy while exercising.

Exercising through pain: when to keep going

After a workout, it’s normal to feel sore. Soreness is a product of microtears that allow your muscles to become stronger and larger. While it may feel like you are too sore to do anything after a particularly strenuous workout, it’s OK to exercise. In many cases, exercising may actually help you feel less sore. Pain after working out, including soreness or mild joint pain, can also be lessened or avoided by decreasing your resistance, the number of reps, or adjusting your form.

Exercising through pain: when to rest

Any “burn” you may feel while working out should be gradual and subside after the workout concludes. This means that any sudden, sharp, or persistent pain acts as a sign that it’s time to stop. This type of pain indicates injury or possible injury and can occur with overuse or incorrect form. If you experience any nagging, sharp, or sudden pain, take some time to rest, ice the area, and take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. If the pain persists after this recovery period, it may be time to contact a specialist at Paris Orthopedics. You should also consider contacting us for:

  • Pain that prevents you from moving a body part or decreases your range of motion.
  • Pain in an area that was previously injured or where you’ve had surgery before.
  • Pain that accompanies deformity or massive swelling.
  • Constant pain or pain that worsens in severity.
  • Pain that also has pressure or bruising in the area.
  • Intense pain that causes nausea or vomiting.
  • Pain that is accompanied by fevers and chills.
  • Pain that interferes with your sleep or keeps you up at night

Avoiding painful exercise

The best way to avoid exercise-induced injuries is to start at your own pace and skill level and check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. If you’re new to working out, it’s probably not a good idea to jump straight into CrossFit. Take time to learn the proper form in all activities, and then slowly increase the intensity, resistance, or duration of your workout over time. If you have past injuries, be mindful of certain exercises that may be too hard on your body. Activities like swimming, Pilates, or yoga are low impact but can still target the whole body. Whenever you start a new exercise program, we recommend that you start with an instructor to help ensure that you’re practicing with the correct form. 

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about pain while exercising, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

General Ortho

How to Treat Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is one of the most commonly reported ailments by Paris Orthopedic patients. While shoulder pain may seem one-dimensional, many underlying causes contribute to the area. In some cases, pain from the neck can radiate towards the shoulders, and in other cases, the pain may be caused by the joints, ligaments, or tendons. Depending on the cause of the shoulder pain, treatment options vary between non-surgical options, minimally invasive surgery, and open surgery. In this blog, we will go through the four primary categories of shoulder problems and the options available to treat your shoulder pain.

We have found that most shoulder problems can be sorted into four categories: tendon inflammation, instability, arthritis, or fracture. It’s important to note that if your shoulder pain prohibits using your arm, or is accompanied by a fever or pain that worsens at night, you should immediately seek medical attention.

Tendon Inflammation

There are many different conditions that can lead to the inflammation of the tendons. Bursitis occurs when excessive shoulder use leads to swelling and inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs in the joints called bursae. Another condition that may lead to tendon inflammation is tendinitis or tendon tears. Tendinitis is classified as either acute or chronic. Acute tendinitis is typically caused by activity, while chronic tendinitis comes about with age or as a result of arthritis. Fortunately, most conditions leading to tendon inflammation can be treated with non-surgical options such as rest, application of heat and ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers. If the pain does not subside or worsens, visit a Paris Orthopedics specialist to resolve your symptoms.

Instability

Shoulder instability or dislocation occurs when the upper arm is dislodged from the shoulder socket. Dislocation can be partial (known as subluxation) or complete and may be caused by overuse or sudden injury. After the initial dislocation, treatment usually begins by resting, icing, and taking pain relievers to reduce inflammation. A sling can temporarily immobilize the shoulder and help with pain. Once the inflammation has subsided, physical therapy can help strengthen and regain the range of motion. Depending on the severity of the dislocation, the shoulder may still feel loose or unstable after physical therapy. In some cases, surgery can help reattach or tighten ligaments that were altered at the time of the dislocation.

Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is a condition that we commonly treat at Paris Orthopedics. The most common form of arthritis in the shoulder is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is typically caused by years of use in work or sports. Non-surgical treatments for shoulder pain caused by arthritis include hot or cold therapy, stretching, and weight training, or physical therapy. Medicines like cortisone injections may also aid in pain relief. In some cases, joint replacement surgery may become necessary when all other treatments have been ineffective in reducing pain and improving mobility.

Fracture

Bone fractures, commonly known as broken bones, occur from sudden injury and require immediate medical attention. The most frequently broken bone is the collarbone or clavicle, with other shoulder fractures taking place in the upper arm bone or shoulder blade. While fractures in other body parts may require surgeries or operations, shoulder fractures are most commonly non-displaced, which means that the bones just need time immobilized in a sling to heal properly. In about 20% of cases, shoulder fractures will be classified as displaced and may require additional medical intervention to restore the normal bone structure.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

No matter what may be causing your shoulder pain, the team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is here to help. Our staff is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about the options available to treat shoulder pain, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

General Ortho

Top Five Myths About Arthritis

Arthritis is defined as the swelling or tenderness of one or more of the joints. In the United States, 23% of adults have some form of this condition. Considering this percentage amounts to more than 54 million people having arthritis, it’s not surprising that myths have formed and continue to circulate surrounding this common condition. In order to supply information that can help you with your arthritis, it’s important to know what is fact, and what is fiction. In this blog, we aim to debunk the top five myths about arthritis and educate you on tried and true treatment plans.

1. Joint Pain = Arthritis

While the primary symptoms of arthritis include joint pain and stiffness, not all joint pain is indicative of arthritis. Various other conditions including tendonitis, sprains, and bursitis can all lead to swelling and pain around the joints. Visiting a specialist at Paris Orthopedics can help determine what is causing your joint pain.

2. Arthritis only occurs in the elderly

While the risk of arthritis increases with age, it can occur at any age. In fact, juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children. Some of the primary arthritis risk factors are completely unrelated to age, such as family history, obesity, and previous joint damage.

3. Exercising is bad for your arthritis

Arthritis may make exercise more difficult, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop exercising. In fact, the opposite is true. Staying active can actually help manage pain associated with arthritis. The CDC recommends that adults with arthritis should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Walking, aerobics and elliptical training are all examples of weight-bearing activities that can help treat arthritis.

4. Arthritis can’t be prevented or treated 

While there are certain risk factors that cannot be prevented or avoided when it comes to arthritis, there are ways to delay the onset of certain types of arthritis and to reduce your overall risk. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, wearing proper protective sports equipment, and practicing good form during physical activity can all help to prevent certain types of arthritis. If you currently have arthritis, there are ways to treat the condition or to help manage symptoms. A specialist at Paris Orthopedics can help you determine certain lifestyle changes, medications or vitamins that can work for you.

5. Heat is better for arthritis than ice

Both heat and cold can be useful for arthritis. Heat can help relax the muscles and relieve joint stiffness, and cold can help to reduce inflammation and pain. While you can opt for whatever feels comfortable, oftentimes alternating between heat and cold, or using heat in the morning and cold at night can be effective in reducing joint pain associated with arthritis.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about joint pain, arthritis, or treatment plans, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.