Preparing for an ankle replacement surgery

In the weeks leading to your scheduled ankle replacement surgery, it’s crucial that you take steps to ensure that the operation goes without a hitch, says orthopedics professional Dr. Ryan Shephard. This entails spending time talking to your doctors to make a clear plan and get yourself physically and mentally ready.

Get in touch with your primary care doctor, physical therapist, and anesthesiologist. It’s best to get a physical exam before the procedure, especially if you have an existing, long-term health condition like, say, diabetes. Your physical therapist would measure how well your ankle functions before the surgery and get a good idea of how to check your progress post-operation. They should also be able to guide you in using a walker or crutches. Your anesthesiologist will ensure that you have a pain-free surgery.

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If you are taking prescription and other over-the-counter medication, make sure to inform your surgeon. For example, you may have to stop taking anticoagulants and pain relievers and seek alternative medication or treatment as you prepare for the operation.

Stick to any direction given by your doctor or surgeon on how to stay clean, from bathing or showering instructions to the use of special soaps. Also, prepare your home for recovery by committing to a one-floor living to minimize your post-surgery movements, especially climbing stairs.

Get rid of tripping hazards such as cords and rugs on your floor. Arrange for someone to be with you for the first few days after the operation. Finally, if you are a smoker, quit. Smoking hurts your heart and blood vessels, just making the recovery time much longer, adds Dr. Ryan Shephard.

Dr. Ryan Shephard completed his residency specializing in orthopedic surgery at McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens in Michigan. When not busy with work, he likes engaging in various sports activities like soccer, volleyball, softball, kayaking, football, and swimming. For related posts, visit this blog.

Hip replacement: Common implant material options

A hip replacement operation typically involves removing the damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial implant. Surgeons such as Dr. Ryan Shephard have different options for implant materials. The selection depends on various considerations, including the nature of the deformity or abnormality of the hip, the age and lifestyle of the patient, and doctor’s preference.

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Some of the most common materials are the following:

Metal and plastic

Possibly the most commonly used hip replacement implants, the prosthetic made of these materials is comprised of a metal implant, usually titanium or stainless steel, to replace the ball-and-socket hip joint, and then using polyethylene, a high-quality plastic, as spacer in-between. The implant is fused to the bone either by press-fitting the implant into the bone and allowing new bone to develop around the implant or by cementing the prosthesis in place.

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Ceramic

Surgeons like Dr. Ryan Shephard determine whether a patient has allergic reaction to metals. Should an allergy be detected, ceramic can be used as an alternative implant material. Ceramic parts can be used in combination with other components, such as special metal or plastic. Ceramic exhibits high durability properties, but it is more fragile than metal, thus, the latter remains a more viable option for many.

Metal-on-metal

This option is similar to the previous one, however, no insertion of plastic material is made in between the implants. While it was discovered that the metals have good wear characteristics, there remains concern about the metal debris the implant might produce. Historically, there have been no data showing that metal ions have an adverse effect on one’s health, but further studies are still recommended.

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Common orthopedic surgery procedures

When grouped in terms of affected areas of the body, the common orthopedic procedures involve the hip (for replacement or repair of fractures), wrist (carpal tunnel and fracture), knee (replacement or knee arthroscopy), ankle (fracture), spine (disc surgery and spinal fusion), bones (fracture), and shoulder (tendon repair and arthroscopy). But broadly speaking, orthopedic surgeries are categorized into two types: cold surgeries and trauma surgeries, explains orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ryan Shephard.

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Cold orthopedic surgery is done to correct infection, tumor presence, and arthritis, which are all non-traumatic conditions. These procedures are done at the convenience of both the surgeon and the patient, allowing for optimizing patient health planning and recovery program development. In other words, patients are given the option to go through the procedure at their most convenient time, seek second opinions, or delay it if they want to. Typical types of cold orthopedic surgeries are hip replacement and knee replacement.

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On the other hand, trauma surgeries are done for reconstruction or repair of affected muscle and skeletal structures like nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, and blood vessels. After a timeline is established, the surgery is scheduled. When blood vessels and nerves are affected, immediate (often within six hours) operation is set. Ankle and knee fractures usually take a week before operation is possible. Patients rarely have the time to seek alternative opinions in trauma surgery cases.

Sometimes trauma surgeries become too complex that they would require collaborative work between various specialists like plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic specialists, explains Dr. Ryan Shephard. This is because complex situations like severed limbs require sensitive medical processes, like re-implantation.

Dr. Ryan Shephard obtained his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency specializing in orthopedic surgery at McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens in Michigan. Visit this blog for similar reads.

Total hip replacement recovery basics you should know

Much like other major surgeries, a patient who has undergone total hip replacement surgery requires careful attention and assistance for their recovery. Some patients stay in the hospital for a couple of days following the procedure, while some patients are required to stay longer. The real challenge in recovery begins once a patient is discharged from the hospital.

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Before a patient is allowed to leave the hospital, they must first be able to get in and out of bed on their own. It’s important to have the pain addressed prior to discharge; a patient must have acceptable pain control. Basic activities such as eating, drinking, and using the bathroom can be difficult for patients to do after the surgery. They must first accomplish such by themselves before heading home.

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A patient must maintain a good understanding of any hip precautions they may have been given to prevent injury and help in ensuring actual healing. One may be prone to infections after a surgery, which makes it best for them to know warnings signs such as persistent fever; chills; increasing redness, tenderness, and swelling of the wound; drainage from the wound, and growing pain with activity and rest.


At home, be sure that pieces of furniture are rearranged for the patient to be able to move around with ease when using a cane or any other assistive device. Put items frequently used within quick reach to not force the body to reach up or bend down just to get a hold of them.


Dr. Ryan Shephard received his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010. He completed his residency specializing in Orthopedic Surgery from McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens, Michigan in 2015. For more information about Dr. Shephard, head over to this page.

Signs that you need to have hip replacement surgery

While aging comes with some small perks in life, it also brings along a lot of problems in the human body. Sure, discounted movie seats might sound amazing, but when getting to your assigned seat causes too much pain, you know you need medical attention. And one of the biggest medical conditions that can apply to you when you get older is a bad hip. The only way to relieve you of this pain is hip replacement surgery. Here are some common signs that it’s time to get a hip replacement surgery.

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When the pain you experience in your hips affects your daily routines, you need to have a hip replacement surgery. The pain can occur any time, from sitting down and standing up, or walking. At first, the pain can be managed by medication or physical therapy. But later on, the pain becomes too unbearable that almost every movement from the waist down brings you pain.

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The pain can also extend beyond your daily activities. If even at rest you feel a significant amount of pain, go see a hip replacement specialist. The pain can keep you awake at night despite medication, which can greatly affect you physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Another sign that you need hip replacement therapy is the severe side effects of medication on you. It is possible that your body can’t metabolize the drugs properly as well.

Lastly, some people are forced to have hip replacement surgery because other minor treatments like medication or physical therapy are no longer effective in aiding motion or bringing relief.

Dr. Ryan Shephard completed his residency specializing in orthopedic surgery at McLaren Macombin Mt. Clemensin Michigan. Dr. Shephard obtained his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. For more articles like this, visit this page.

Ways to relieve hip pain at home

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the leg to the torso of the body. The head of the femur (thighbones) rotates within the acetabulum—the socket—that is made up of pelvic bones. Many causes of hip pain may result from the joint itself, while others could arise from the other structures surrounding the hip.

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Experiencing daily hip pain caused by arthritis can be difficult. Physicians encourage their patients to do a few exercises to alleviate the pain. Welcome the day by doing the bridge exercise in the morning to get the muscles moving, activated, and busy. Begin by lying on the back with knees bent and the feet flat on the floor hip-width apart. Press down through the ankles and raise the buttocks off the mat while tightening the abdominal muscles.

If the pain is too much and it feels inflamed, try icing the area. For arthritis and bursitis, doing this can lower the inflammation, thus helping with the pain. Warmth may be helpful in treating pain caused by arthritis. A hot shower or bath can soothe the joint. Although, be careful not to do use this method when the pain is caused by bursitis.

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Working in water can help relieve pain. Swimming and water aerobics are great workouts for the hip joint. Such exercises strengthen muscles without placing as much stress and pressure on the joints. For arthritis relief, weight loss can also be helpful. This can offset the pressure on the joint and alleviate hip pain.

Dr. Ryan Shephard received his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010. For quick updates, follow this Twitter page.

Why hip pain occurs

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Hip pain isn’t an uncommon complaint at all. While the hip joint is durable and can withstand repeated motion and a reasonable amount of wear and tear, it’s not indestructible; the cartilage can eventually wear down or undergo damage. Hip pain can occur as a result, possibly of abnormalities in the hip itself or other joints in the body.

Issues within the hip joint tend to cause pain on the inside of one’s hip or groin. Hip pain on the outside of the hip, as well as the upper thigh or outer buttock, is typically caused by problems with the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint. The pain can also be what’s called referred pain, or one emanating from diseases in other bodily areas, such as the lower back.

Hip pain is commonly caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflamed hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage cushioning the hip bones. Hip fractures are another common cause, as aging bones can become weak, brittle, and likely to break during a fall.

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Hip pain can also emerge from a number of injuries, such as bursitis or joint inflammation, dislocation, hip fracture, hip labral tear, sprains and strains, tendinitis, and inguinal hernia. Tendinitis is inflamed or irritated tendons, the thick bands of tissue attaching bones to muscles. It usually results from repetitive stress from overuse.

Other common reasons for hip pain include pinched nerves, cancer, and other problems such as avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis (bone infection), osteoporosis, and synovitis. In the case of cancer, advanced cases may have already spread to the bones, affecting hip joint health. Tumors starting in the bone or spreading to it can also cause pain in the hips.

Dr. Ryan Shephard has a medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at McLaren Macomb in Mt. Clemens, MI in 2015. For similar reads, visit this page.