Month: August 2019

Shoulder Replacement Surgery – A Patient Success Story

Shoulder Replacement Surgery – A Patient Success Story

Posted by | Aug 25, 2019 |

Shoulder Replacement Surgery – A Patient Success Story Some shoulders can be saved with surgery that repairs a rotator cuff or removes a bone spur. But when a shoulder cannot be saved, shoulder replacement surgery may be the answer. It has been steadily refined to provide individuals with functioning shoulders and predictable improvement in pain and is the fastest-growing joint replacement surgery performed today. David Peterson remembers the exact moment he knew his left shoulder was seriously damaged. Despite living with chronic pain, the Acton resident, 64, continued to work as a carpenter — gripping tools, climbing ladders and...

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Fast-track joint replacements are becoming more common

Fast-track joint replacements are becoming more common

Posted by | Aug 23, 2019 |

Fast-track joint replacements are becoming more common Not everyone is a candidate, but certain individuals qualify for a fast-track approach to their hip or knee replacement surgery—that is, heading home on the evening of their surgery or the next morning. There are a few items to consider when evaluating a patient for fast-track surgery, says C. Brittany Boisvert, MD, whose orthopedic surgery practice includes joint replacements, along with sports medicine. “The patient needs to be in good physical condition, meaning they exercise regularly,” she says. “Next, individuals with medical conditions—heart-related, pulmonary or sleep apnea—are not candidates for a short...

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Innovations in Sports Medicine

Innovations in Sports Medicine

Posted by | Aug 22, 2019 |

Innovations in Sports Medicine Innovations in sports medicine continually shape how musculoskeletal care is provided. For more than 20 years, surgery on knees and shoulders has been performed in a minimally invasive way. The result is smaller incisions and shorter hospital stays. “Minimally invasive surgery is possible because of technology—specifically, the tiny cameras we use during surgery to visualize the operation,” explains Peter Kok, MD, who specializes in sports medicine. “There is less soft tissue injury during surgery, which helps with pain.” “Today patients benefit from better anesthesia and pain control, including regional nerve blocks and injectable medications,” notes...

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Setting more Goals Thanks to Knee replacement – a Patient Success Story

Setting more Goals Thanks to Knee replacement – a Patient Success Story

Posted by | Aug 20, 2019 |

Setting more Goals Thanks to Knee replacement – a Patient Success Story Ronald Millet didn’t dread knee replacement surgery; it was the period of required inactivity afterward that had him worried. The Lancaster resident, 65, wanted to get back to his active lifestyle, which includes cycling 7,500 miles, on average, each year. He tried a variety of treatments to delay the inevitable, but once he started limping and couldn’t straighten his leg, he began research that led him to Emerson Hospital. A serious bike crash several years ago slowed Mr. Millet down, but only temporarily. “I was riding my...

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