Nov. 9, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

Planning is always good, especially when you’re in pain. If you have a painful catch in your wrist from typing all day or a nagging knee injury that keeps bothering you when you walk the dog, it might be time to look into solutions.

You won’t be alone. Orthopedic providers agree that patients want to book surgeries before the holidays or before the new year – and a new deductible – kicks in.

“I like to lay out options but let patients decide,” said surgeon Dr. Travis Liddell, Avera Orthopedics Sioux Falls. “We’ll look at choices, things going on in their lives and, of course, consider insurance.”

Do I need surgery for my pain?

Anyone considering surgery for joint pain in the knee, hip or elsewhere should realize not every appointment leads to booking a surgery. It begins with an exam and consultation.

“Seeing a joint surgeon is a good step, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get a procedure,” said surgeon Dr. Benjamin Walters, Avera Orthopedics Sioux Falls.

Dr. Bryce Braaksma, Avera Orthopedics surgeon, prepares to perform a knee procedure.

“X-rays help with diagnosis,” Walters said. “But the face-to-face conversation with the surgeon is vital.” During that meeting, patients will share insight on many things, including:

• How much pain they’re experiencing in the joint or extremity.
• How long the pain or lack of mobility has been affecting them.
• What limits are in play at the time, including things the patient can’t do anymore.
• Other efforts to help lessen pain.

In some cases, a less-intrusive, pain-reducing treatment procedure may be all it takes. Walters said open-ended conversations help arrive at solutions. “I’ve helped farmers who need to get back in the field quickly,” he added.

Liddell said even patients who are considering surgery before the year’s end can benefit from the consultation. “We take a moment to pause and evaluate,” he said. Some pain points might not be only a knee or back problem. Thorough examination of the patient can help address the root of the issue.

“Arthritis is often a cause of joint pain, and yes, it can be progressive as a condition,” Walters said. “Yet a delay of a few weeks or months won’t be damaging.”

Thorough exams can be opportunities for orthopedic experts to educate patients on all their options. It’s easy for a nonclinical individual to assume the worst or expect bad news when seeing a doctor.

“We meet with patients and learn their goal – that could be reducing pain, removing it completely or planning other parts of their life, from harvest to a wedding to a big trip,” Liddell said.

Solutions for hand or wrist pain

People with hand pain or tingling fingers, along with sensations of burning, numbness or weakness, may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Minimally invasive procedures can address those feelings of “pins and needles” in the hand and wrist.

“Orthopedics keeps changing, and the latest approaches reduce incision size, time in the facility and in most cases, time needed to recover,” said hand surgeon Dr. Razvan Nicolescu, Avera Orthopedics Sioux Falls. “Most of my patients can use the treated hand on the day of the procedure.”

Recovery – how long it takes

Recovery from elective procedures comes with good news: It’s most often weeks, not months, to recover, and that time frame may fit your holiday downtime.

Knee replacement recovery times average six weeks; patients who have carpal tunnel procedures might recover in the same time frame – but many times faster, sometimes in only a couple of weeks.

Motivated, educated patients with clear-cut goals do best.

“We encourage patients to do what’s sometimes called pre-hab where they get more active prior to treatment or procedures,” Walters said. “When patients know what to expect, they tend to have better outcomes in recovery.”

Learn more at Avera.org/ortho.