May 2008 Archives
Explore Latest FACTS (and Fiction)
in Non-Operative and Operative Treatments of Hip, Knee and
Back Arthritis
By Paula Deasy
ARTHRITIS IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITY IN THE U.S; 42.7 MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE ARTHRITIS AND MORE THAN A THIRD REPORT THAT ARTHRITIS PAIN
LIMITS THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES. For many,
anxiety or fear of the unknown prevents them from seeking help that could
improve their quality of life.
On Saturday, June 21, Dr.
Anthony M. DiGioia, III, a leader in Patient and Family Centered Care and one
of the pioneers of less invasive and computer assisted orthopaedic surgery,
will chair an event for patients in the Bone and Joint Health Series entitled Let
Your Journey to Wellness Begin! Boomeritis:
Help for those Aching Hips, Knees and Back. The Bone and Joint Health
Series presents four events each year.
The upcoming program on June 21 will be held at the CCAC Boyce Campus
and is open to the public and free of charge!
"In this age of having
massive amounts of information available at one's fingertips, patients and
families can have a hard time sorting through it all," said Dr. DiGioia, a
practicing orthopaedic surgeon at Renaissance Orthopaedics and founder of The Orthopaedic
Program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
"The program on June 21st is designed for patients and their families who have an interest in learning more about those aching hips, knees and back," DiGioia explained. "The goal is help people sort out fact from fiction and let them hear directly from the experts about the non-operative as well as the operative treatments. Our hope is that these events will improve communication and knowledge and reduce anxiety so that patients can make informed choices regarding treatment and maintenance of health."
A keynote presentation entitled "Patient and Family Centered Care: Reducing Anxiety and Providing Exceptional Care Experiences and Outcomes" will be given by Dr. DiGioia. He will be joined by orthopaedic and spine surgeons, a rheumatologist and a physical therapist to discuss the evaluation, diagnosis, treatments and exercise possibilities for those suffering from hip, knee and back pain. In addition there will be an "Ask the Doctor" panel discussion as part of the program.
Another resource for those
seeking help for aching bones and joints is the blog at
www.amd3.org/ROblog. "The site was created on the advice of our Patient and Family Advisory Council and in response to all of the information about bone and joint health, " DiGioia continued. "We have a 'Fact & Fiction' column that can help patients obtain current and accurate information, and the blog site enables people to learn from patients' stories and to ask questions of patients and families living through similar experiences."
For more information or to register for the June 21st event, visit
www. boneandjointhealth. org.
For questions, call 412-683-3260 or send an
email to info@ boneandjointhealth. org.
- What restrictions do
I have after total joint replacement?
- There are very few restrictions
for patients after surgery.
The only activity we do not recommend for patients is jogging for
exercise as it accelerates the wear on your new joint. Patients with hip replacements are
told not to cross the operative leg over the other leg at the knees as
this can put you in a position where you could potentially dislocate. You
can cross at the ankle and bend all the way down as long as the legs are
apart at the knees. You can resume all other activities based on your
comfort and confidence level.
- Do I need to take an
anticoagulant after surgery?
- All of Dr. DiGioia's
surgical patients are to have Lovenox injections for 2 weeks
postoperatively and then ASA (aspirin) for 2 weeks. Some patients have a
higher risk for blood clots and have to take the blood thinners for a
longer time.
- How soon after my
total joint replacement can I return to work?
- You may return to
work as soon as you feel comfortable. Following a normal TKR/THR a
patient should be out of work no longer than 4-8 weeks, but many patients
can return to work in as little as 3 weeks.
- Will I be able to go
to a rehab facility after surgery?
- 99% of our patients
are able to return home after surgery without any problems. You are full weight
bearing the night of your surgery and are able to climb stairs right away
as well. For 2-5 days
following discharge, a physical therapist will come to your home to work
with you, and you will attend outpatient therapy for 2 to 4 weeks at a
physical therapy location close to your home. On occasion, however, if there are medical or surgical
issues, patients will be sent to a skilled nursing facility, but we
always prefer for our patients to go home. For the most part insurance companies are no longer
covering stays in rehabilitation facilities after joint replacement.