By Dr. Dwight Engdahl

You and your doctor tried everything, but the pain in your knee, hip or shoulder won’t go away. You can’t sleep through the night and you can no longer do the things you love to do.

It may be time to consider one last option – a joint replacement.

Joint replacement surgery is always a last resort, but it’s an option that can give relief to those who suffer continual pain and loss of motion despite more traditional therapies. The need for joint replacement becomes necessary when, because of injury, arthritis or other diseases, the cartilage that cushions the meeting point between two bones wears away. The result is bone against bone – and pain.

The decision to undergo a joint replacement should be made only after getting all the facts from your doctor. Your age, activity level and medical condition will all be considered.

If you do opt for a joint replacement, here are a few things to know:

• First, the goal of surgery is to relieve pain. This is done by replacing the damaged cartilage with artificial surfaces like metal or plastic. The replacement cushions the ends of the bones and allows greater movement without pain.

• After surgery, your doctor will prescribe physical therapy to make sure your new joint functions as intended. Recovery time varies from person to person and according to the type of surgery, but expect it to last several weeks.

• Depending on the joint replaced, your doctor will advise you against certain activities, at least at first. A hip or knee replacement may require the temporary use of a walker and safety features in high risk areas, like showers. If you’ve had a shoulder replacement, you probably will need to wear a sling for a few weeks. All recoveries will require you to make adjustments in your daily life. Friends and family members can be especially helpful during this time.

While it will take hard work to make the most of your new joint, the effort will be worth it. Eventually, you will more than likely be able to return to your regular activities  — and a pain-free, better quality of life.

We’re proud of our physicians at OAZ and would like to give you the opportunity to know them better. Today we introduce you to Dr. Karl Saunders.

Dr. Saunders has been with the practice since 1981 and has served as president since 1993. He is an orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in arthritis, joint replacement, and hand and sports surgeries. Dr. Saunders is a member of the Ohio State Medical Association and is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

What our patients might not know is that Dr. Saunders also has a special interest in martial arts – particularly, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport and self-defense system that focuses on grappling and originates from the Japanese art of Kodokan Judo from the 20th century. It’s used for sport grappling tournaments, gi and no-gi, MMA competitions and self-defense.

Known within the martial arts community as “Brad Saunders,” Dr. Saunders is president of Saunix Jiu Jitsu and is a certified ringside doc.

Under his leadership, OAZ has hosted two mixed martial events with Magno Gama and will host the third Magno Gama event at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville in 2012.

Check back on our blog for more information in the spring.

As 2011 comes to an end and the holiday parties wrap-up, the thought of New Year’s resolutions is on everyone’s mind, even all of us at OAZ.

At the beginning of every new year, starting a new exercise regimen or even resurrecting an old regimen seems to be at the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolution list. Exercise not only improves our bodies but also improves our overall health. Since exercising is a common – if not the most common resolution, we have put together a list to make it easy and hopefully make you want to stick with the program.

1. Start out slowly but set measurable and achievable goals. Keep track of your progress.

2. Remind yourself daily. Add time at the gym to your calendar so it’s an appointment you won’t forget. Pack a gym bag for your car and leave walking shoes by the door as reminder.

3. Reward yourself with non-food items. If you accomplish a fitness goal, stay on track for an entire week/month or try a new exercise class (these are just a few suggestions), reward yourself with a massage or spa appointment, a movie, new clothes or new workout gear.

4. Take the time and money to invest in a good pair of athletic shoes with plenty of support. Replace your shoes when they loose support.

5. Start exercising with a friend or family member or join an exercise group or fitness class. If you attend a group exercise class and you are new, introduce yourself to the instructor. It is recommended to attend a group exercise class two or three times before deciding if you really like it or don’t like it. You need time to learn the steps and learn how the instructor teaches.

6. Start out slowly and don’t try to do too much. It is okay to either break up your exercise routine throughout the day into small chunks of time or to even just do what you think you can. Try walking for 15 minutes every day and adding a minute every week until you reach your maximum time goal.

7. You don’t need fancy equipment to get the job done. Stick to the basics like free weights, medicine balls, kettle bells and your own body weight.

8. Try to use multiple muscle groups, especially if you don’t have a lot of time. Combine exercises like squats with dumbbell shoulder presses.

9. Use whatever you can to get going, whether it is an iPod full of music, the goal of rewarding yourself after a committed week of working out or the desire to start a new exercise regime.

We hope you enjoyed our tips for starting a new exercise program in 2012. If you belong to a gym or start a new membership, ask the staff on hand to demonstrate how equipment works if you don’t know. Talk to your physician if you have questions about starting an exercise program.

Happy New Year from all of the physicians at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville!

Winter is just around the corner and we want to remind everyone about common injuries that can occur during the wintertime. Earlier this year, Dr. Oz reviewed the top winter injuries and included the following:

• Slip and fall injuries
• Shoveling
• Driving
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Burns and carbon monoxide poisoning

We are going to focus on only a few of the common winter injuries.

1. Slip and fall injuries are commonly seen in the ER during the winter. If you fall on a patch of ice, you could risk fracturing your wrist or, even more seriously, fracturing your hip. Depending on how someone falls on the ice, head injuries can also occur. If you must go outside, be sure to take your time and walk slowly, wear warm insulated footwear with good rubber tread and if you walk in the street because the sidewalks aren’t clear, be sure you are visible to cars.

2. Shoveling can add stress to your body, especially your back because of the twisting and lifting of the snow. When shoveling, pace yourself and take frequent breaks. As always, dress appropriately and wear slip-resistant boots. We recommend trying to push snow instead of lifting and throwing the snow either over your shoulders or away from your body. Listen to your body and if you start sweating, are short of breath or have chest pain, stop immediately. For those of you with snow blowers, never ever under any circumstance put your hand in the shoot to unclog the snow and even when you turn off the snow blower, the blades can still be running so be patient if you need to unclog your snow blower. Visit your local hardware store or visit Amazon for ergonomical shovels.

3. Frostbite can occur within five minutes of your body being exposed to outdoor temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) and -19 degrees Fahrenheit. If you experience Frostbite, ice crystals literally form within the tissues around your cells. Repeated exposure to extreme weather conditions can cause permanent damage to the nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

If you or someone you know might have frostbite, do the following:
• Get the person out of the cold, immediately.
• Remove constricting clothing, especially around the area of frostbite.
• Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
• Never rub the affected area because it can further damage the tissue.
• Never re-warm a frostbitten area because more damage can occur if the tissue thaws and then freezes again.

These are just a few tips from us here at the Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville. We want to emphasize that people need to use common sense and take precaution when playing outside in the snow, shoveling or participating in other outdoor activities during the winter.

Two previous posts were on the History of Sports Medicine and the History of Physical Therapy and we would like to continue to provide you with information on the history of surgeries, technology and other common injuries we see here at OAZ. Today we would like to give our readers 10 facts about total hip replacement:

1.     According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the first total hip replacement was performed in 1960 (only 51 years ago!) and is considered one of the most important surgical advances of the last century.

2.     Improvements in surgical techniques and technology, like arthroscopy, have greatly increased the effectiveness.

3.     According to the AAOS, more than 193,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the U.S.

4.     Early designs had the potential to loosen from their attachment to the bones, becoming painful after 10-12 years.

5.     Initial hip designs were made of a one-piece femoral component and a one-piece acetabular component.

6.     Modern acetabular components are made up of two parts – a metal shell and a separate liner.

7.     Once an uncommon surgery for frail patients, total hip replacement is common among aging athletes.

8.     Hips are one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints.

9.      In most cases, modern hip replacement surgery allows patients to walk almost immediately post-op.

10.    Various approaches to the hip can be done for replacement, including posterior, lateral, and anterior. Each approach is available at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville and your physician will be glad to discuss the options with you.

Anterior approach to Hip Replacement Surgery – Animation