Combating Hip and Knee Pain: The Road to Recovery
Perhaps you’ve had to give up bicycling. Just getting out of bed in the
morning may have become an ordeal. And sitting on the floor to play with
the children is out of the question.
Whether you’re suffering from a past injury, or from the gradual wear
and tear of osteoarthritis, pain can make it difficult for you to
maintain an active lifestyle.
The Bryn Mawr Hospital Orthopedic Center in the Philadelphia suburbs is
an established leader in caring for people with hip and knee pain. From
managing medications and physical therapy to surgery, our orthopedic
specialists work with you every step of the way to provide the treatment
that will restore your quality of life.
“We have a reputation for incorporating excellence in orthopedics with
complete, individualized care for each patient,” says Joseph V. Vernace,
M.D., orthopedic surgeon. “This is what sets us apart.”
Symptoms and Diagnosis
If you are over age 50 and suffering from chronic hip or knee pain, it
is most likely the result of osteoarthritis, the number one cause of
disability in the United States.
Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of the cartilage cushioning the bones.
In severe cases, the cartilage wears away completely, leaving bone
rubbing against bone.
Symptoms vary. You may have a hard time moving around in the morning.
You may hear a grinding sound when you walk, and your joints may appear
swollen.
Treatment
“In general, your physician will recommend conservative courses of
treatment first,” says Robert P. Good, M.D., Bryn Mawr Hospital’s chief
of orthopedics.
These may include antiinflammatory medications, physical therapy, pain
relievers or synthetic joint fluid.
“If such attempts do not work,” he says, “surgery may be necessary to
help you to return to an active lifestyle.”
Depending on your diagnosis, Bryn Mawr Hospital’s orthopedic
physicians—recognized nationally for excellence in orthopedic
surgery—may recommend one of several surgical options, including:
-
Arthroscopy
A small instrument is inserted into the joint to clean
out loose pieces of cartilage in this outpatient procedure.
-
Hip and knee
replacement
Rough, worn surfaces of the joint are replaced with
smooth-surfaced artificial components. In addition to
traditional joint replacement surgery, we offer Custom Fit
Knee® replacement.
-
Complex joint reconstruction
The joint surface is replaced while bone deformities
caused by childhood disease or trauma are simultaneously
corrected.
-
Cartilage restoration
Uses advanced technology and biological engineering to treat
articular cartilage and meniscus cartilage injuries of the knee
-
MAKOplasty®Partial Knee
Resurfacing
An innovative treatment option for adults living with early to
midstage osteoarthritis (OA) in either the medial (inner),
patellofemoral (top), or lateral (outer) compartments of the
knee.
“We pride ourselves on our expertise throughout the whole gamut of joint
surgery,” says Matthew P. Lorei, M.D., orthopedic surgeon. “Whether a
patient requires a straightforward joint replacement or a complex
reconstruction, we offer the type of expert care delivered with personal
attention that is hard to find elsewhere.”
We provide monthly seminars on hip and knee pain. For more
information and a class schedule, click
here or call 1-866-call-MLH (1-866-225-5654). Registration is
required.
