Valley Sports Physicians & Orthopedic Medicine Blog

Tens of millions of people suffer from back pain every year, and the experience is always different from person to person. If your back pain is severe enough that you’re considering going to the doctor, it’s important that you’re able to properly describe what you’re feeling. This will help your doctor determine what may be triggering the problem, and more importantly, how you can get relief. There are several factors to consider when it comes to back pain, but you really only need to tell your doctor about 5 to give them (and you!) the best chance for success.

Waking up with a completely numb hand might be a little amusing at first, but for many people, it occurs often enough that it becomes a concern. If it frequently happens to someone’s dominant hand, it can be extremely annoying if they need to go to the restroom, get a drink of water, or start making breakfast. Is there a way to prevent this? Could this be a sign of a condition like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? We share everything you need to know to rest easy in today’s blog.

Back pain was one of the most common muscle-related issues in the U.S. even before people were asked to stay at home due to COVID-19. But now, it’s even more prominent because the population is spending more time sitting at their computers each day, whether they are working, video calling friends and family, talking to their child’s teachers, or organizing grocery delivery.  If you find yourself constantly dealing with back pain, you are far from alone, but these quick and easy stretches can help relieve the tension so you can keep focusing on what matters.

Most of the unpleasant symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, like stiffness and pain, have one main source—inflammation of the soft tissues due to excess friction within the joint. While no diet or supplement can cure arthritis, certain foods are proven to increase this inflammation, and avoiding them can go a long way in making it easier to manage the condition, helping someone be more comfortable (and mobile) day to day. If you have OA, be sure to skip the following foods, and your body will thank you for it!

Even mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can have a big impact on your day-to-day life, but fortunately, you don’t have to just sit idly by. In addition to consulting with a doctor, there are also a few exercises you can do on your own to relieve the chronic hand and wrist pain. Give these a try, but be sure to start slow, and if anything causes discomfort, don’t push it. These shouldn’t substitute for treatment from a doctor, but they can provide a much-needed short term solution to improve your comfort and function.

Going to the doctor’s office can be a nerve-racking experiences for many people. As such, patients have the option of seeking care from another clinician if they feel their current physician isn’t meeting their needs. While each doctor may be unique, there are common traits that most patients look for in their physician.  Here are the most important characteristics, according to MedPage Today:

A new study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine showed that a single injection of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) was both more effective and longer lasting than a cortisone injection for the treatment of symptomatic gluteus medius tendinitis.

A new study published last month in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences showed that moderate physical activity (MPA) can delay the worsening of mild knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Are you considering “decompression shoulder surgery” (also known as subacromial decompression) for rotator cuff impingement?

A new study published in the Jan. 15, 2019 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that “subacromial decompression surgery provided no important benefit compared with placebo surgery or exercise therapy, and probably carries a small risk of serious harms.”

Dr. Tortland was the Moderator and a featured instructor at a stem cell and regenerative medicine course hosted by the Regenerative Medicine Training Institute.  The hands-on course, titled “Hands-On Orthobiologics Clinical Applications, Techniques and Procedures for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Pain Management and Spine,” saw 20 physicians from around the country (and one from the Philippines!) learn the knowledge and essential skills needed to begin to introduce regenerative medicine into their practices​.  Dr. Tortland moderated the morning’s didactic lecture session, and he was an instructor in the afternoon’s hands-on cadaver lab workshops.  He also performed a live patient treatment in front of the group.  (Dr. Tortland holds a valid Florida medical license.)  Dr. Tortland is an internationally recognized teacher in the field of Regenerative Medicine and musculoskeletal ultrasound.