Know Your Bones

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    or call 585-271-4272
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    980 Westfall Rd., Ste. 105
    Rochester, NY 14618
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The Book

  • Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine

    Beautifully illustrated and packed with the latest information for a personalized treatment plan.


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    Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine, by Stephanie E. Siegrist, M.D. - cover image

     

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Other Amazing Books...

  • Nicholas DiNubile: FrameWork

    Nicholas DiNubile: FrameWork

  • Michael F. Roizen: You the owner's manual

    Michael F. Roizen: You the owner's manual

  • : All You Need to Know About Joint Surgery : Preparing for Surgery, Recovering and an Active New Lifestyle

    All You Need to Know About Joint Surgery : Preparing for Surgery, Recovering and an Active New Lifestyle

  • Edited by the Arthritis Foundation: The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Good Living with Osteoarthritis

    Edited by the Arthritis Foundation: The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Good Living with Osteoarthritis

  • Stephanie E. Siegrist: Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine

    Stephanie E. Siegrist: Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine

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Understanding Osteoarthritis - What Is A Joint And How Does It Work?

To better understand what osteoarthritis is, let's first take a look at what a joint is and how it works.

Your musculoskeletal system contains muscles, bones and associated tissues that move your body and maintain its form. Wherever two or more bones come together, a joint is formed. For example, your knee joint contains three bones - the femur or thighbone, the tibia or shinbone, and the patella or kneecap. Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the thighbone and the pelvis. And your wrist is actually a linkage of 10 separate bones.

Bones are held together with strong bands called ligaments. Muscles cross the joints to provide active support and movement. Tendons attach muscles to bones. When a muscle contracts, it moves the bones like levers at the joint. Strong muscles protect the joints they cross by acting as stabilizers and shock absorbers.

Your joints are also lined with a sensitive membrane called the synovium (sin-OH-vee-um). This membrane's job is to produce a few drops of fluid, called synovium fluid, that lubricates the joint. A normal healthy knee joint, for example, usually contains about one half teaspoon of synovial fluid.

Cartilage is the tissue that covers the ends of the bones and forms the joint's surface. It is a remarkable tissue. Hyaline cartilage is the strong, slippery contact where motion occurs at your joints. And it is this cartilage that can become affected by osteoarthritis.

There are no blood vessels in cartilage. Here the synovial fluid and underlying bone nourish the cells. There is also no nerve endings in cartilage. So the actual fraying and cracking of worn cartilage is not really the source of pain. Instead, osteoarthritis symptoms arise from inflammation or strain in the structures that surround the joint.

In my next post, I'll discuss what osteoarthritis is and why it hurts.

[The above article was taken from excerpts  from Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine, a guidebook written for those who suffer from osteoarthritis.]

August 05, 2008 in osteoarthritis | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: hyaline cartilage, ligaments, musculoskeletal system, osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis symptoms, synovium fluid

If You Suffer From Arthritis, You Are Not Alone

If you suffer from arthritis, you are not alone. A study conducted by the National Council on Aging found that over 20 million people in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). Many doctors believe that number will double by the year 2020. Also, an earlier study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that OA disables about 10% of those 60 years or older. Chances are, if you are not personally suffering from OA, you probably know someone who does. Perhaps  a family member or friend.

Over the next several weeks, I will be writing some additional articles about OA. I'll explain what osteoarthritis is, and what some of the arthritis treatments are that you can seek out to help control it. I hope you will find the articles informative, and I invite your comments and questions.

For anyone looking for an easy to read reference book about OA, please take a look at a guidebook I wrote initially for my patients. It's helping many of them - and it provides some great information. Most likely, it can answer many of your questions and also help you better understand the advice you receive from your doctor and pharmacist.

The title of book is Know Your Bones: Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine. You can read more information about the guidebook by clicking here or on the cover of the book and links in the upper left column of this blog.

So please look for these future articles. There will be lots of information about the numerous treatments that are available to you and how they differ. I'll also include health tips and some general advice many of my patients ask me about.

Stay tuned...

July 31, 2008 in osteoarthritis | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: arthritis, arthritis medicine, arthritis treatments, Know Your Bones, osteoarthritis

What causes Tennis Elbow?

Elbow_strapaaos Tennis elbow is not just for tennis players anymore...most patients with pain on the outside of their elbow and top of their forearm turn wrenches or type for a living.  See how it works on a cool video at About.com

April 07, 2008 in Health class | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Anatomy Exhibit at RMSC 9/1-1/1: GO!

Discus_thrower_at_rmsc Anyone with a body must see Our Body: The Universe Within at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

See my interview on Channel 10:  Watch the Video.

It's a rare opportunity for you to appreciate how architecturally marvelous your body is.  The coolest part of these specimens is that they're in action poses.  You've only seen drawings of bodies in the static "anatomic position" before.  Now you'll get a better idea what stuff does, not just where it is, and really Know Your Bones!

Once you see how the knee bone's connected to the hip bone, you'll understand how to manage your joint pain. 

The specimens are incredible--respectfully, scientfically, artistically displayed.  These are/?were? real dead people!  There's no odor, but unfortunately you can't touch the "plastinates", as they're called.  Even my doctor colleagues haven't this chance since freshman anatomy lab in medical school. 

The artistry of these specimens isn't as good as the Bodyworlds exhibit, but it's certainly worth the $20 ticket--the price of a co-pay!  Go!

August 25, 2007 in What I wish my patients knew | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (1)

Bone health back in the news!

                Rnewsfit2t_2                                  Thanks to the Time Warner affiliates throughout NY for rerunning our segment on osteoporosis prevention!  A number of patients and acquaintances have said, "I saw you on TV last week."  Nervous (afraid I was caught on hidden camera!), I wasn't sure why. 

It's last year's video, and our featured patient, Sharon, is fully healed.  No Fit to a T lecture series this year, but learn how to keep your bones strong at Fit to a T or Tone Your Bones!

April 06, 2007 in Health class | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Tone Your Bones

Toneyourboneslogo There's a fantastic, thorough tutorial about osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment called Tone Your Bones from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

This friendly site walks you through the biology, testing, treatment and homework you'll do to protect your skeleton and prevent fractures.

Do you need a bone density test/DEXA scan?  Are you getting enough Vitamin D?  Do you have to take Fosamax?  What exercises should you be doing?

This site gives my patients all the information they need, in a way I could never deliver during an office visit!

April 01, 2007 in Health class | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (3)

Joint replacement is not the only answer!

Af_logo You are invited to attend my presentation for the local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation on Osteoarthritis--Diagnosis, Treatment and New Directions on Thursday, March 22 from 7-8:30 PM at the Pittsford Community Library.

The theme of the talk will be more like "Osteoarthritis Reality Check for the Cranky Consumer."  You'll learn some basics about OA, but most of our time will be spent discussing the pros and cons of various treatments. 

Why are pills and exercise enough for some patients, but others need cortisone shots, Synvisc or surgery?  What can you expect from joint replacement, arthroscopy or fusion?  Why spend so much for a brace?  Is "minimally invasive surgery" all it's cracked up to be?  Have they invented the magic wand yet?

For more information, and to register, call 585-264-1468.  Refreshments will be served; 'Hope to see you there!

March 16, 2007 in Health class | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Synvisc--is it for you?

Tin_man Synvisc® can be an effective treatment for your painful  knee. It puts lubrication back onto the worn surfaces of an arthritic joint. 

This treatment actually isn’t classified as a drug, but is considered a “device” because it’s not absorbed into the bloodstream, yet it changes the mechanical properties of the joint into which it is injected

Normal, healthy synovial fluid is viscous, or syrupy; it’s like the consistency of honey.  It nourishes, cushions and lubricates the cartilage that forms the joint’s load-bearing surfaces.

However, the synovial fluid in osteoarthritic joints loses viscosity and becomes more like water.  The whole purpose of Synvisc (or Hyalgan, or other brands called viscosupplementation) is to “supplement” the “viscosity” of your joints’ fluid, improving lubrication, relieving friction and pain.

Viscosupplementation won’t cure arthritis.  Although the advertisements for these treatments (like for so many other things) tout them as the miracle of the new millennium, there are definitely some shortcomings.

It doesn’t work for everyone.  In the best of circumstances, patients receiving these shots feel better for about a year.  Many patients don’t notice any improvement.  If it helps you for at least 6-9 months, then you could have another round of treatment.  The real benefit to viscosupplementation is that it might allow you to comfortably postpone the inevitable:  knee replacement surgery.

Find out more at In Step with Synvisc.  Upcoming posts will cover the pros and cons of shots for knee pain.

January 22, 2007 in Health class | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Welcome to the new office:
980 Westfall Rd., Ste. 105
Rochester, NY 14618
585-271-4272

980_sign_cropped I've been practicing orthopaedic surgery in Rochester, NY, since 1995.   I have relocated in order to grow my practice, with an emphasis on "preventive maintenance" and musculoskeletal health.   Common problems I treat include:  fractures, shoulder tendonitis and rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee pain and arthritis, bunions and other foot problems.

I specialize in treating patients with osteoarthritis, and optimize the benefits of treatments that are less invasive than joint replacement surgery.   We'll talk about what's best for you, now and for the future, including exercises, medications, injections, braces, and surgery.

I want you to take an active role in your care; I take time to educate you about your condition and to focus the treatment on your health and lifestyle. My goals are to relieve your pain, and restore function and quality of life.

Dealing with a painful joint is hard enough; it's even harder in our fractured health system.  Patients: please let me know how to improve our office.  Post a comment below.  Thanks, and welcome!

November 25, 2006 in Practice info/policies | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (1)

Driving Directions

980_sign_cropped_1 Our new office is not far from the old one: near the corner of Westfall Rd. and South Clinton Ave. in Brighton. We're now EAST of the light at South Clinton, 980 Westfall Rd., 585-271-4272.

From the NORTH/CITY: Take South Clinton Ave. south, turn LEFT onto Westfall Rd. #980 is a half-block down on your LEFT. If you get to Lac DeVille Blvd., you've gone too far.

From the EAST (PITTSFORD, PERINTON, WEBSTER, VICTOR): Take 490 West to 590 South to the Winton Rd. exit. Turn RIGHT onto Winton Rd., turn LEFT at the second traffic light onto Westfall Rd. #980 is about 1 mile on your RIGHT, just past Lac DeVille Blvd.

From the SOUTH (HENRIETTA): From Winton Rd., turn LEFT at the traffic light onto Westfall Rd. #980 is about 1 mile on your RIGHT, just past Lac DeVille Blvd.

          From East/West Henrietta Rd., turn RIGHT at the traffic light onto Westfall Rd. #980 is about 1 mile on your LEFT, just past South Clinton Ave.

From the SOUTH (AVON, GENESEO): Take 390 North to 590 North to the the Winton Rd. exit. Turn LEFT onto Winton Rd., turn LEFT at the second traffic light onto Westfall Rd. #980 is about 1 mile on your RIGHT, just past Lac DeVille Blvd.

From the WEST (GREECE, GATES, CHURCHVILLE): Take 390 South to 590 North to the the Winton Rd. exit. Turn LEFT onto Winton Rd., turn LEFT at the second traffic light onto Westfall Rd. #980 is about 1 mile on your RIGHT, just past Lac DeVille Blvd.

FINISH: Our building is the one on the LEFT; plenty of parking in the rear of the building. Welcome!

November 25, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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Patient Education

  • Shoulder: Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Shoulder: Impingement and Arthroscopy
  • Shoulder Arthroscopy Tutorial
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Medline Plus--Nat'l Library of Medicine
  • Knee: Arthroscopic Surgery
  • Knee Arthroscopy Tutorial
  • Info from Amer Acad of Ortho Surgeons
  • Essential 2-minute Stretch
  • Caring for an "aging knee"

Links

  • @Dr. Siegrist's Practice
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Arthritic knees? Watch this video!
  • Arthritis Foundation
  • Chestnut Hill College
  • Medical College of Pennsylvania
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Monroe County Medical Society
  • National Osteoporosis Foundation
  • Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
  • US Bone and Joint Decade

Categories

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  • Health class (49)
  • osteoarthritis (8)
  • Practice info/policies (3)
  • Reciprocal Links (5)
  • What I wish my patients knew (13)
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