Orthopedics

Do you have shooting pain in your legs that make it hard to stand up from a seated position? Do you suffer from a tingling or burning sensation that goes down one of your legs? These are two common symptoms of sciatica, a common condition that affects the largest nerve in your body. The sciatic nerve extends from the lower back down to your legs.Sciatic pain can be devastatingly severe or in some cases just very irritating. Whatever the case, if you are suffering from, or been diagnosed with sciatica, and you’re wondering what your treatment options are, you’re in the right place because in this article we’ll take a look at some of the most common treatments.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is usually the result of something causing inflammation or an irritation to the sciatic nerve. Most commonly a lower back disc herniation is the culprit, as the “herniated” or “bulging” disc pushes down directly on the nerve.

The treatment for your sciatica will depend on the cause of your pain, however there are generally four common recommendations for a sciatica pain management plan.

Rest

Sometimes rest is all you need to let the body heal itself. If your symptoms are not severe or you were able to catch sciatica in one of its early stages, rest and anti-inflammatory medication may be all you need to get over your back pain.

Physical Therapy

A trained physical therapist will take you through a variety of stretching and lower back exercises to strengthen your back and leg muscles.The exercises will help to increase your flexibility and improve your function, while the stretching exercises will help reduce the pain. Together the exercises and stretching make for a great one-two combo to tackle the pain symptoms of your sciatica.

Pain Injections

Pain injections are a little further down the pain management program and will obviously depend on the severity of your pain symptoms. For many people pain injections are “painful”, and thus avoided, however, injections are easily administered by a physician and sometimes can have a really positive affect on reducing your pain.

Surgery

As a last resort or in severe cases, a physician may recommend surgery to help with persistent or chronic back pain. If your symptoms have lasted longer than six to twelve weeks, surgery may be an option worth considering.Generally most patients will experience relief after surgery.

If you are in pain or think you may be suffering from sciatica-like symptoms, contact a physician at IBJI for expert care. Our physicians will help you find a solution so you can reduce or eliminate your pain and once again enjoy being active.

Many people don’t like the traditional high-field MRI machines because they are very noisy and require you to be in an enclosed, cylinder-like space. If you’re claustrophobic or get too uncomfortable and fidget in the MRI machine, it could be problematic and the technician may not be able to get the images needed. The tight space and the noise don’t provide the most pleasurable experience for patients but there are other options.

If you don’t like being in an enclosed space but need to get an MRI, what do you do?

An open MRI is a great alternative to the traditional “tube” or “tunnel” MRI machines.An open MRI is indeed “open” on all four sides and is not enclosed like traditional machines.These are great for physical comfort and emotional comfort as well.In an open MRI you will be able to see around you and if necessary, can have a family member close by for support. These “open” machines not only benefit people who don’t like to be closed-in but also people with larger body types and structures.Open MRI’s easily accommodate many different body sizes and is much more comfortable for almost all patients.

Another discomfort or disadvantage of traditional MRI’s is the noise. Although ear plugs are given - for some, the noise is just too much to tolerate. (If you haven’t been in an MRI machine before, it can sound like an airplane preparing for take-off.) However open MRI machines are much quieter and make for a much more enjoyable experience and you won’t feel like you’ve just landed when you get out of the machine.

So why doesn’t everyone get an Open MRI?

Not all diagnostic imaging centers offer or have open MRI machines. Additionally, one of thenegatives to an open MRI is a machine scanner is less powerful than “tube” MRI machines. Even though they take high quality pictures - they are not as  good as high-field machines.However, some MRI diagnostic centers have newer high-field open MRI’s which is the best of both worlds. You’ll get the highest quality image and the comfort that only an open MRI can provide.

Where to get an open MRI in Chicago?

If you are in the Chicago area and prefer an open MRI, the Illinois Bone & Joint institute has state-of-the art MRI machines throughout the Chicagoland area and recently has upgraded to open high-field MRI machines. The new machines offer even quieter scanning and are more comfortable for patients.Find an Open MRI location nearest you or contact an office with any questions.

After tearing his ACL on January 23^rd, New Trier’s senior and starting defenseman Ryan Bower was informed his season was over. Bower was injured in an exhibition game when a player he checked bounced off the boards and landed on his knee.  

As a graduating senior, Ryan realized sitting in the doctor’s office that he would not get the chance to skate with his high school teammates again or play in the state championship game. A tough pill to swallow for any young athlete in any sport but the motivated Bower had other plans.

Bower’s underwent a successful surgery on Feb. 13, which was performed by Doctor Roger Chams and immediately began his rehabilitation program at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute Wilmette location. Bower dedicated himself to his rehabilitation program and even did strengthening exercises and stretches at home on his days off.

Fueled by the desire to suit up one more time with his teammates and best friends, Ryan was cleared to start skating March 21^st, just 3 days before the championship game and just 4 weeks after surgery.

Ryan’s hard work and commitment paid off; miraculously only 39 days after his surgery, Ryan did lace up and skate onto the ice with his high school teammates for the last game of the season, the state championship. While he was not an active player in the game, Ryan’s spirited return did help motivate his team for the big game and give a little extra incentive to win. 

For New Trier, it was a fairy tale ending, winning the Blackhawk Cup beating Glenbrook North 5-3 in the Illinois State Hockey Championship game. It was an emotional night for everyone involved and a memorable one too.

Ryan’s desire and commitment helped him get back on the ice with his teammates, but the character he displayed in the face of adversity will take him anywhere he wants to go in life. Whether he’s on the ice or not he’ll always be a champion.

Congratulations!

There are many different treatments for chronic pain ranging from medication to surgery, and if you suffer from chronic pain you are probably already familiar with many of the options available such as physical and massage therapy, acupuncture and pain injections. Most people have some knowledge of physical therapy and some alternative treatments like acupuncture which are growing in popularity. But general knowledge on some of the other available pain management options such as pain injections seem to be less widespread. In this article, we’ll take a look at trigger point injections and why you may want to consider this option.

What are Trigger Point Injections and Why Should I Consider the Treatment?

A trigger point injection (TPI) is an outpatient procedure used to relieve pain caused by trigger points or knots in muscles. Trigger point injections are administered by a health care professional and involve a small needle being inserted into the trigger point or painful area. Lidocaine which is a numbing agent is commonly the injected substance and used to numb the muscle or muscle group(s) causing the pain. Sometimes an anti-inflammatory is also injected into the trigger point area. 

When you have tight muscles that are bound-up in knots, they can lead to chronic pain or extreme discomfort. The trigger point injections help to reduce pain by releasing the tension caused by the muscles. Of course, the injections are not effective for every patient, but trigger point injections have proven, in many cases, to provide fast relief by helping the tight muscles to relax. Additionally, it’s a fairly quick procedure and can take as little as a few minutes to be administered.

Where Do TPI’s Fall in My Pain Management Plan?

Trigger point injections are not usually the first treatment a physician would recommend for chronic pain, most of the time, a trigger point injection would be recommended after you’ve attempted resting the affected area, prescription medication and/or a physical therapy regimen. Certainly, the type of treatment recommended for you is dependent on your individual circumstance and only your physician could give you specifics about trigger point injections and your pain management plan. For the most part, a physician may recommend other treatments before a trigger point injection.

Contact Your Physician

If you are suffering from chronic pain, or think you need trigger point injections, contact your physician immediately and discuss your options. Your doctor may suggest other treatments before trigger point injections or not recommend them at all.

Your treatment plan is designed to help you manage pain and increase quality of life; at IBJI our physicians take pride in helping our patients live happier and healthier lives. If you would like to speak to an IBJI physician about your condition find a location nearest you or call to learn about our comprehensive pain management program.

Are you considering back surgery? Depending on your personal circumstance, a back surgery may or may not be the best option for you. Back surgery is a major decision and ultimately it’s something you will need to discuss with your family and physician. As you think about your options, here are 3 things to consider when thinking about a possible back surgery.

Have you been through a full pain management plan?

Surgery is typically a last option. Depending on your injury, there are many options for treating back pain, including medication, rest, physical or massage therapy and pain injections. There are also alternative treatments like acupuncture that are used to reduce pain or slow back problems from progressing. If you are early in the development of your back problem, your physician may recommend you progress through a series of treatments before considering back surgery. However, if you’ve already been through a full pain management plan, surgery may be the best option.

Is your pain considerably reducing the quality of your life?

Many times surgery is considered because the pain is such that it has radically reduced the quality of the person’s life. Does your pain stop you from doing the things you love, with the people you love? Are you unable to do daily chores or work? Has the constant pain changed your attitude and negatively affected your relationships with people? These are all questions you must ask yourself and discuss with your family and physician. If you find the pain and the reduction of your quality of life to be more than the physical pain, you may want to discuss surgery as an option with your physician.

What happens after back surgery?

For many, back surgery is able to help increase range of motion, decrease pain and increase quality of life. But that’s not always the case, when considering surgery, you need to make sure that the likely benefits of your surgery outweigh the pain and decrease in quality of life you are experiencing now. A good physician will discuss what to expect after surgery and most would not even recommend surgery unless believed to be the best course of action. In spite of that, the final decision is yours, so make sure you have a good understanding of the surgery process and what to expect after surgery.

Speak with a physician

Most people try to avoid back surgery at all cost and most physicians will only recommend surgery as a last option. There are many possible treatments outside of surgery that may make your pain manageable and you may want to consider most or all of them before having back surgery. However, if your pain is such that your quality of life is severely reduced, you will want to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic physician to discuss your options. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make and you need to be informed and comfortable with your choice.

“To have Dr. Benson really restore so much of Ned’s mobility and independence, there’s just no way, we could ever measurably repay him.”  

These are the words of a grateful mother for the exceptional orthopaedic care received for her son Ned Bryant.  Ned was severely injured in a playground accident, suffering from a broken bone, multiple fractures in his arm, vascular trauma and nerve damage. He was rushed to the hospital with his mother where he had to receive multiple surgeries and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

After a couple of days in the intensive care unit, Ned was fairly quiet and a little down, even for someone who had such a traumatic experience.  Dr. Benson decided that a good way to take Ned’s mind off of his injuries would be to bring his dog Chelsea into the hospital to play with Ned.  And it worked; Chelsea gave Ned something else to focus on, something positive to look forward to and aided Ned as a therapy dog.

Ned is making a strong recovery and has regained many of his lost abilities, like zipping up his jacket, playing the piano, or riding his bike. But Ned is particularly happy about one thing he can do again, holding his mom’s hand.  A simple comfort that Ned’s mother is also happy to have regained.

Ned has exhibited a tremendous amount of courage and has embarked on a journey that will only continue to build strength and character in his bright future.

Learn more about his story in the below video.

Has your physician recommended a total joint replacement or replacement arthroplasty? Simply put, a total joint replacement is a surgical procedure that removes a joint and replaces it with an artificial joint.  The aim of the procedure is to eliminate or relieve pain, but the procedure is usually at the tail end of your pain management treatment plan, as surgery is typically a last resort. However, if your pain has progressed to a point where your physician feels that it’s necessary, you may benefit immensely from the surgery.  Here are the top 3 benefits of having a total joint replacement surgery.

Pain Free Living

Do you remember what it was like to live pain free or at least live with a manageable amount of pain? A successful total joint replacement surgery will help reduce or eliminate the pain.

The procedure is designed to remove the damaged joint and replace it with an artificial one called a prosthesis. The prosthesis should allow for pain free movement after the surgery recovery period.

Increased Mobility

Our bodies are designed for movement and a restriction or limitation in movement goes against our nature. The restriction of mobility also has a negative effect on our muscles, often weakening them and further decreasing our flexibility and movement. Of course, if you are not in severe pain every time you move, you will move more, and the prosthesis will help you move without severe pain or in many cases without pain at all.

Return to Day-to-Day Activities

The ultimate goal of your total joint replacement surgery is to get you back to your normal day-to-day activities, and after the surgery recovery period most patients are able to return to doing daily chores, working, and exercising. A successful surgery will help increase your quality of life by reducing pain and allowing you to get back to doing some of the physical activities you enjoy.  

Over 7,000 Joint Replacement Surgeries Each Year

Total joint replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that is usually used as a last resort for patients that have severe pain in an affected area, but has great benefits for those who follow through with the procedure including pain free living, increased mobility and a return to normal daily activities. Overall a successful procedure will increase the quality of your life, and help you get back to a point where you enjoy being physically active. 

If you have any question about a total joint replacement surgery, make an appointment to see one of our expert orthopedic physicians at IBJI.

This information is not intended to provide advise or treatment for a specific situation. Consult your physician and medical team for information and treatment plans on your specific condition(s).

Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can be very painful. RA causes inflammation of the joints which can lead to stiffness and swelling in the affected area. The key to slowing the progression of the disease is recognizing the symptoms and getting treatment as early as possible. Unfortunately, recognizing the symptoms can be tricky as RA may have periods of remission and during those periods there will likely be no symptoms. The key is to listen to your body and not ignore the symptoms.

Numbness or tingling in the hands

One of the most common symptoms of RA is numbness or tingling in the hands. The inflammation compresses the nerves which may cause pain in the wrist area or the hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a known condition that affects the wrists and hands and also may be an early sign of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Morning Stiffness

Morning stiffness is a common complaint of people with RA. The joints are usually very stiff and may have limited range of motion in the morning and then loosen during the day with movement and activity.

Joint Pain

Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect many areas of the body but pain is often directly related to joints. The numbness and tingling in the hands is a common area affected, but pain may be felt in the knees, elbows, shoulders, jaw or neck.

Fatigue

Fatigue by itself is not enough to classify it as a symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis. But constant fatigue in combination with some of the other symptoms, like pain in the joints or tingling in the hands, may be a result of inflammation caused by RA.

Foot Pain

Some people with RA find they have pain in the heel or forefront of the foot as a result of the inflammation. The pain can be such that it stops men from wearing dress shoes or women from heels.

Don’t Ignore the Symptoms of RA

Rheumatoid Arthritis may affect your entire body, but more commonly you will have pain in your hands or joint areas like knees or elbows. The pain or stiffness may be worse in the morning and take you a few hours to feel like you have loosened up.

Remember, individually not all of the symptoms will be good indications of RA, but if you have multiple symptoms, that may be a better indication of the possibility of the disorder. Knowing these symptoms may help you recognize the disease early and get the proper treatment. The key is to not ignore the symptoms and to speak with a physician as soon as the symptoms surface.

This information is not intended to provide advise or treatment for a specific situation. Consult your physician and medical team for information and treatment plans on your specific condition(s).

If you’re suffering from chronic heel pain, you already know the condition can be very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, having pain in the foot area can prevent you from playing sports like basketball and racquetball or stop you from enjoying a nice jog around the block. In more severe cases, pain can be felt while walking or standing. Chronic heel pain may severely reduce the quality of your life if undiagnosed and untreated. It’s important to understand the most common causes and symptoms of heel pain, so that you may seek medical treatment if necessary.

Do you have plantar fasciitis?

The most common cause for heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis. The condition is known to be very painful and typically happens as a result of straining or overusing the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is connective tissue that runs from your heel bone to your toes.

Causes of plantar fasciitis

Typically plantar fasciitis is caused from overuse from activities like running or standing for extended periods of time. But having flat feet or high arches may also contribute to the condition. Additionally, wearing improper footwear over extended periods of time may also cause inflammation to the plantar fascia.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis

The most common and obvious symptom is pain in the bottom of the foot at your heel. The pain may be a dull ache or a sharp sensation but often will feel like a stab in the heel of your foot. Because plantar fascia is commonly associated with overuse, the pain may build gradually.

A popular complaint among people with plantar fasciitis is heel pain in the morning upon waking up and taking their first steps. After “warming up” the pain may lessen throughout the day, unless aggravated with strenuous activity.

Get Diagnosed – Don’t live with heel pain

Chronic heel pain is a very painful and uncomfortable condition that may reduce the quality of your life if untreated. A physician will be able to accurately diagnose the condition and put you on a treatment plan, but that starts with you recognizing the symptoms and seeking out help. The most common cause of chronic heel pain is plantar fasciitis which is typically caused by overuse from activities like jogging or running for long periods of time.

If you are suffering from chronic heel pain and have not yet seen a physician, please contact a podiatrist at IBJI for expert treatment. You don’t have to live with heel pain because IBJI can help you enjoy every step.

This information is not intended to provide advise or treatment for a specific situation. Consult your physician and medical team for information and treatment plans on your specific condition(s).

If you have been living with pain in any area of your body for an extended period of time, you are probably familiar with the phrase “pain management”. Many people suffer from conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, and other conditions that may gradually progress without the help of a pain management treatment plan. An effective pain management treatment program will usually involve multiple physicians and therapist that will work together to help reduce or eliminate your pain. 

What is Pain Management?

Chronic pain conditions can stop you from playing your favorite sports, working or conducting normal day-to-day activities. The main purpose of pain management is to reduce your pain and increase your function to improve quality of life. Pain management usually involves a team effort, for instance, you may start off seeing a doctor because you have low back pain. That physician may prescribe you medication and recommend you see a physical therapist. If the physical therapist and the physician are able to eliminate your pain, your pain management treatment would stop.

However, if the physical therapist put you through an entire program and you were still in pain, she may recommend non-steroidal injections. All of these health practitioners will work together to help you reduce and eliminate your pain.