Q
: 1
10/15/2009 |
I have extreme pain at the back of my knee. Can you provide any help or a specialist recommendation?
There are multiple possibilities for causes of your pain. Muscle strain, meniscus problem, and deep venous thrombosis are just a few of the possibilities. I recommend you see a fellowship-trained Sports Medicine orthopaedic specialist near you for further evaluation. If you would like an appointment in our College Park, MD location to see me you can do so by calling 410-448-6273.
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Q
: 2
09/13/2009 |
What accounts for increased muscle size with exercise? I assume there are no new muscle cells, so what happens within the cell?
Muscle cells under hypertrophy, or increase in size, with resistance strength training.
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Q
: 3
12/18/2008 |
My daughter dislocated her kneecap and tore her medial retinaculum. We saw two doctors and one said to go ahead and walk as much as possible without twisting it and even shoot freethrows. The other said immobilize the joint for 3 weeks. Is there a happy medium and how can medical doctors be so far apart on the treatment of this injury? They both described the injury exactly the same just the treatments were opposite. My daughter is a teenage basketball player with some ligament laxity issues.
This is a common injury in adolescent females. There is no evidence to suggest that immobilization is of benefit in promoting healing or reducing recurrent instability of the kneecapy. I recommend working with physical therapy, progressive range of motion and quadriceps strengthening, and as tolerated return to activity for patients with similar injury patterns.
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Q
: 4
12/16/2008 |
My daughter has been identified as having "loose joints". Her most recent injury has been a soccer ankle injury. Last year her hip consistently bothered her.
The ankle doesn't hurt when she twirls it or when I press on it. It only hurts when she steps down hard on it or pivots.
She loves to play soccer and is afraid that this injury will not allow her to play.
What course of action would you recommend for her?
Your daughter should be evaluated by a Sports Medicine Orthopaedic doctor for definitive evaluation and treatment. She may have a cartilage injury, stress fracture, or ligamentous injury causing her symtpoms.
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Q
: 5
06/12/2008 |
I have a grade 3 tear of my lateral colateral ligament on the right knee. Can this be repaired or replaced?
A lateral collateral ligament tear of knee does not have the potential to heal. It requires either acute repair or reconstruction if repair is not possible. You can schedule and appointment to see me for a consultation by calling 410-448-6273.
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Q
: 6
03/15/2008 |
Can it be risky for a fast pitch pitchers arm, who is an adolescent girl, to pitch, get cold in the outfield, make huge throws, and pitch again? If so, why?
Athletes should always warm-up prior to athletic participation. Warming-up helps limit the risk of injury.
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Q
: 7
03/08/2008 |
I am a 53-year-old-woman who has an unstable patella. I tore my meniscus when in my 20s, and after the surgery, my knee cap has been unstable and painful. I have been told by other doctors that I should have a knee replacement, as that would take care of the patella. My pain is limited to under the patella. Are doctors able to just replace the patella, and realign it? What is the success rate if it is possible? I want to avoid a total knee replacement if possible. Is this is a possiblity?
My partner, Dr. Craig Bennett, is performing kneecap replacement surgery. You can schedule an appointment to see him by calling 410-448-6400.
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Q
: 8
03/02/2008 |
Hello, I tore my anterior cruciate ligamnet about two years ago while playing soccer but I have only noticed that I have torn it after a MRI. My physio recommends increasing the muscles around my knee instead of surgery. What do you think?
If you truly tore your ACL, I expect that you would remember exactly when it occured. An ACL tear is not an innocuous injury. You should remember a twisting injury when you developed rapid onset of pain, swelling, and inability to continue with activity. If not, I question the diagnosis. If this is the case your ACL may just not have been well visualized on the MRI. This doesn't necessarily mean it is torn. The course of the ACL is such that depending on the MRI technique it just may not be well seen on the MRI. In either case, if you are not having episodes of shifting or giving way in your knee there is no reason to undergo surgery.
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Q
: 9
12/05/2007 |
My 17-year-old son tore his ACL playing indoor lacrosse. There is no involvement of any other structures of the knee except for a bruised bone. I am being told he needs ACL repair surgery. Is there an alternative to surgery? I am being told not if I want his knee back to peak condition. What do you think?
Your son needs an ACL reconstruction. The ACL plays an important protective role in the knee, and when it has been torn the knee is unstable and can suffer further injury. Current anatomic reconstructive techniques (when performed properly) return >90% of athletes to their previous level of competition. It is not recommended for a young athlete (or any athlete) to return to sports prior to undergoing ACL reconstruction. It has also been shown that results are better when the surgery is perfomed by a Sports Medicine orthopaedic surgeon who performs at least 50 ACL reconstructions per year. There are several options for what graft to use, each of which is better in certain situations. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me to discuss it further you can do so by calling 410-448-6273.
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Q
: 10
12/02/2007 |
My daughter's volleyball team is recommending they all purchase and wear ankle braces. Is this something you would recommend?
Ankle braces and ankle taping have both been shown to be effective in preventing ankle sprains. I do think it is a wise investment, particularly if your daughter has had ankle sprains in the past.
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Q
: 11
11/08/2007 |
I ruptured my patellar tendon playing soccer in 2004 and went in for my initial surgery 12 days later. Unfortunately, my repair site stretched out and my had to have surgery again later that same year. In February 2006, I had my third surgery and it looks like my knee cap is starting shift north all over again. I am extremely depressed over the thought of having a fourth surgery and wanted to get a second opinion about what I should do. Please keep in mind that the second and third surgeries were very complicated procedures that were attempted by the physician for the first time each. I am living in constant pain and my quality of life has been greatly affected because I can't do much more than walk on a level surface without shooting pain or my knee buckling. I used to be very active and was able to play soccer, mountain bike, backpack, etc. I simply want my life back but don't know what to do. Please help me.
You certainly do have a complex problem. With each additional surgery the chances of having an optimal outcome become worse. That being said a successful outcome can still be reached with an augmentation procedure to strengthen the repair. You can schedule an appointment to see me by calling 410-448-6273.
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Q
: 12
11/05/2007 |
I am 42 and very active, but over the last couple of weeks my right knee becomes very painful after standing and walking for a few hours. Both my legs and the soles of my feet hurt sometimes during the night it wakes me up.I have gone to my chiropractor but it does not help. any suggestions.
You may have something as simple as patellofemoral syndrome. However, your heel pain and leg pain concerns me about the possibility of a systemic condition. You should see your primary care physician for evaluation and possibly some blood tests to rule out inflammatory contitions.
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Q
: 13
06/22/2007 |
Our son has been diagnosed with "jumper's knee" 18 months ago. He has had no luck with PT, or 1 cortisone injection. We are at a loss. He can barely walk up a flight of steps without pain. He is scheduled to go back to Officer Candidate School for the Marines, but we don't know how he will do it. Any ideas or is anyone a specialist in this type of injury?
Jumper's knee is an aggravation of the patellar tendon where it inserts onto the tibia, or shin bone. It is the result of repetitive jumping or climbing activity, which puts excessive stress on the patellar tendon insertion. Treatment is activity restriction with avoidance of aggravating activities, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy for hamstring and quadriceps flexibility, use of a Chopat strap, sometimes an MRI of the knee to evaluate the extent of the irritation, and rarely surgery if all else fails. Your son needs to be evaluated by a fellowship trained Sports Medicine orthopaedic surgeon to determine which of these treatments are indicated for him.
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Q
: 14
06/22/2007 |
I am 69 years old and have osteoarthritis in both knees. To strengthen the muscles around my knees, I do squats and deadlifts as well as Nautilus adductor and calf raises. The squats go only 2/3 of the way to parallel. Neither exercise produces pain while being performed. I squat with 285 lbs and deadlift with 225 lbs.
Am I hastening the further deterioration of my knee cartilage by doing these exercises?
Any type of weight bearing exercise will hasten the arthritic degeneration of your knees. Weight bearing exercise can take the form of walking, using a treadmill, squats, lunges, or using an elliptical. Non-weight bearing exercise does not load the joints to the same degree and is recommended for people affected with arthritis. Forms of non-weight bearing exercise include swimming and biking.
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Q
: 15
01/12/2007 |
How do you treat a hamstring injury?
There are several different types of hamstring injuries. The most common type is a strain within the muscle belly or at the musculotendinous junction near the upper thigh. These are treated with rest, followed by stretching and strengthening. Less commonly the hamstring tendon can tear from its origin on the pelvis near the buttock. These injuries need to be repaired with surgery at the time of inury.
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