Common Causes and Brief Treatments of Hip Pain

One of the most common problems our patients have is “hip pain”, but what do patients truly mean when they say hip pain? There are multiple conditions which can cause pain in and around the hip, buttock, and thigh and the location of your pain is useful in determining the cause. Groin pain Patients describing groin pain are most often … Read More

Low Back Pain: Is Surgery the Answer?

Back pain is an extremely common problem. It affects nearly 70% of Americans at some point in their life. The pain can be debilitating and interfere with daily life. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand that can take away back pain.  Getting rid of back pain is often a process of trial and error. What works for one patient may … Read More

Knee Arthroscopy vs. Total Knee Replacement

If you are suffering from a knee injury or chronic knee pain, it is a good idea to be evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. A good musculoskeletal examination and proper imaging will help determine if surgical intervention is necessary for you. If surgery is the next step, it is important to decide if arthroscopic surgery is or a more invasive surgery … Read More

Preventing Blood Clots after Orthopedic Surgery

Certain types of orthopedic surgery carry with them the risk of developing a blood clot in the post-operative period.  Blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) can be life threatening.  A pulmonary embolism usually happens when a DVT, often in your leg, travels to your lungs and blocks a blood vessel.  This can lead to … Read More

What is a Physician Assistant?

In my 5 years as a physician assistant (PA), I have often been asked when I am going on to finish my schooling to become a physician. Time and time again, I have had to explain to family, friends and patients that a physician assistant is not a stepping stone to becoming a physician; it is the end-goal for those … Read More

Heat Vs. Cold Therapy: How They Work and When to Use Them

Although it seems like a simple concept, one question that we are commonly asked is when to use ice versus heat therapy to treat pain.  In this post, we will discuss how each one works on a physiologic level, and when to use each one.  Both heat and cold therapy are an inexpensive and easy-to-use treatment for the management of … Read More

Common Golf Injuries: Prevention and Treatment

Golf may seem like a low-impact sport, but injuries are common for many golfers. As in all sports, it is extremely important to understand and execute proper mechanics when swinging a golf club as well as carrying your golf bag. Golf may not be a high cardiac sport either, but it is essential to condition your body and increase your … Read More

Fracture Prevention in the Elderly Population

Osteoporosis A major cause of disability in older adults is often due to fractures that limit mobility and interfere with activities of daily living.  Fractures are common amongst elderly individuals for a multitude of reasons.  One of the most common being osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is defined as a condition in which the body loses too much bone or makes too little … Read More

Lyme Disease: Something to keep in mind as the weather gets warmer…

What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is tick-borne illness transmitted to humans by deer ticks. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The tick must be present on the skin for at least 24 hours to actually transmit Lyme disease. This seems like a long time but often these ticks are so small and go unnoticed by the individual. … Read More

Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

Statistics Drug overdose deaths have increased by 300% since 1999.  Opioid pain medications were the cause of 14,800 deaths in 2008 alone; more than deaths caused by cocaine and heroin abuse combined.  This number has surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2009, opioid misuse/abuse led to more than 475,000 emergency … Read More