Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Winter 2018

Orthopaedi cs He’s got your back Samar i tan wel comes Chr i s Stone, PA-C Chris Stone, PA-C, is dedicated to helping his patients regain mobility and leave pain behind. As an orthopaedic physician’s assis- tant, Stone works in sync with surgeon Leo Chough, MD. Stone also worked with Dr. Chough in Seattle before joining Samaritan Healthcare. Now they help Moses Lake area residents return to their ac- tive, everyday lives through state-of- the-art orthopaedic services. Stone’s interest in becoming a physician’s assistant stems from his enjoyment in seeing how treatment changes patients’ lives. “I love seeing someone smile again after having a procedure,” says Stone. “So many people live with pain—they feel they have to adapt to it. After the procedure, they realize what a difference orthopaedic treatment can make in their daily lives.” Stone provides care for patients in the clinic for a variety of conditions, including hip or knee pain, sprains, fractures, dislocations, and joint injec- tions. Stone also assists Dr. Chough in performing arthroscopic (small incision) and replacement surgeries for knees, hips, shoulders and more. To complement their expert care, Samaritan will also soon have a state-of-the-art Hana® surgical table used to position a patient’s body for surgery, which allows muscle-sparing, orthopaedic procedures through a single, short incision, leading to more rapid recoveries. Stone earned a bachelor of science degree in biology at the University of Wyoming and a master of physician assistant degree from Rocky Mountain College. To better assist patients and their families, he is learning Spanish. He also enjoys Moses Lake’s out- door environment, which allows him easy access to run and practice for triathlons. Stone, along with surgeon Dr. Chough and the Samaritan Healthcare team, is dedicated to mak- ing a difference in people’s lives by providing state-of-the-art orthopae- dic care conveniently close to home. Have joint pain? To schedule an appointment with Stone, call 793-9789 or visit samaritanhealthcare.com . Q What causes knee problems? A direct blow or sudden movement— like changing direction rapidly when running—can hurt your knee. But knees can also be injured gradually. For instance, a prob- lem with your feet or hips can make you move awkwardly. And that can throw off your knees' alignment, eventually damaging them. Q Can diseases cause knee problems too? Yes, especially arthritis. The most common kind in the knee is osteoarthritis. In this disease, shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee slowly wears away. Typically, it begins in people 50 and older. But a knee injury might cause osteoarthritis in a younger person. Rheumatoid arthritis —a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks joints— is another type of arthritis that harms knees. Q Beyond pain, how can I tell if my knee is injured? Swelling is a big tipoff. Your knee might also catch or lock up. Many knee injuries also cause instability—the feeling you get when your knee is giving way. Q What are some of the most common knee injuries? Heading the list: fractures around your knee; dislocations (what happens when the bones of your knee are out of place); and sprains and tears of soft tissue, like ligaments or tendons. Q What should I do if I hurt my knee? When you're first injured, you can speed your recovery by remembering the acronym RICE: R est your knee to avoid more damage. I ce it with a bag of ice or frozen vegetables. C ompress it with an elastic bandage. E levate your knee above your heart. Q When does an injured knee need treatment? Get treatment right away if you: ■  ■ Have severe pain or swelling. ■  ■ Can't move your knee. ■  ■ Start limping. ■  ■ Hear a popping noise and feel your knee give out at the time of your injury. Q How are knee problems diagnosed? In three ways: With a medical history; a physical exam; and diagnostic tests, such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan or biopsy. Q What are my treatment options? Often, knee problems can be treated with fairly simple measures, such as: Immobilization. For example, your doctor might advise a brace to keep your knee from moving. Physical therapy. Exercises that strengthen the muscles that support your knee can help you move comfortably again. Medicine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen can ease pain and swelling. But to fully restore leg function, surgery may be necessary for many fractures and injuries around the knee. Sometimes doctors can do this surgery arthroscopically, making tiny incisions and using miniature instruments to repair the knee. Q Is knee replacement surgery the right choice for a severely damaged knee? Very often, yes. If arthritis or an injury is mak- ing it especially hard for you to do everyday activities—like walking or climbing stairs—this surgery can help you get your life back. In fact, it's one of the most successful medical proce- dures. Still, it's only appropriate when nonsur- gical treatments, like medication, and walking supports, such as a cane, are no longer helpful. Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American Council on Exercise; National Institutes of Health QA Need- to-know Some advice about knees Our knees are involved in almost everything we do— walking, bending, turning and climbing.With all that wear and tear, chances are most of us will have at least a minor knee problem at some point that will make us wince and wonder what to do.With that in mind, here are answers to some common questions about knee problems. Samaritan Orthopaedics are your local experts on knees. Call for your appointment today: 793-9789 . 6 THE SAMARITAN Joint health