OrthoWertz

04/10/2014

Hello -It's Lisa with OrthoWertz-

I just noticed that the best of Lawrence competition is going until Friday, April 11. As you all know I really enjoy working with Dr Ken Wertzberger and Shane in our Lawrence office, and had chosen Ken for care for my kids even prior to work for him. He has successfully treated and followed many of my friends and family. We would definitely appreciate you taking the time to vote for our office!!

If your game, go to www.Lawrence.com. Then to the right click on “ best of Lawrence, vote now". Now on the left click on the category health and fitness and go to the bottom to "sports medicine".

Please feel free to forward to anyone you would like!

You can type in his name Ken Wertzberger M.D. OrthoWertz PA

Thanks a bunch!!!

~ Lisa

Sent from my iPad

Sports heroes entered my life early from my seat on the floor of our crowded den in Rochester, N.Y., where with my father and five brothers I watched Roberto Clemente, Wilt Chamberlain and Arnold Palmer performing on television.

08/22/2013

There are some unusual medications being used for arthritis that may have some scientific merit. From the health food store the food additives of glucosamine has been studied but the jury is still out as to whether or not this is beneficial. Since there are no side effects, other than it being expensive, there would be no reason not to take. Chondroitin probably does not work because so little of it is absorbed from the intestines, only about 16%. Avocado and soybean derivatives have been used as well as ginger-based products, again no proof. Some of the tri-cyclic antidepressant medications have now been used for chronic pain and recently Cymbalta got FDA approval for use with pain in addition to anti-depression. And the amazing drug doxycycline, which is a great acne drug, staph drug, antimalarial, also has some characteristics of inhibiting the severity of osteoarthritis in dog models.

08/21/2013

Back by some POPULAR DEMAND - The principal problem in arthritis is the wear of the articular cartilage (just like the gristly material on the end of a chicken leg when you cook it) which the body does not replace. Eventually the x-ray will start to change and show characteristic findings. The joints lose some range of motion, don't function as well and muscles become weaker because of that leading to a feeling of the joint not working as it should as well as discomfort

04/18/2013

Musculoskeletal diseases are the most widespread cause of chronic illness and absence from work. Common to many of these problems are abnormalities of the inflammatory process, hence why nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) are among the most commonly prescribed and taken medications. Most commonly over-the-counter ibuprofen or Naprosyn is used, or prescription drugs like Celebrex.

02/12/2013

Rub on liniment and topical agents are helpful and popular in the treatment of osteoarthritis. "Pain oil" and other such products usually contain capsaicin which is derived from a pepper plant there are other liniment's that are menthol based and aspirin-based, are very popular but no definite proof in clinical trial of their efficiency. Currently, we now have a pharmacy to mix compound drugs normally taken orally like Voltaren or diclofenac.. This seems to be beneficial although short-term just like an oral medicine.

02/06/2013

Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong disease of unknown cause. It affects approximately 1% of the population. The incidence increases with age and it's more common in females unlike osteoarthritis where the breakdown in the articular cartilage is the hallmark of the disease, the primary issue with rheumatoid arthritis is a antigen antibody reaction of some sort which affects the synovium of the joint which is actually the lining inside your joint. By inflaming this lining causing swelling and fluid,, this creates pain and limited function.

01/29/2013

Alteration of activities of daily living and alternative exercise are frequently "bad words" to many patients with arthritis. It depends entirely on what your lifestyle has been, what you're used to and what your personality will accept as to the possibility of eventual deteriorating function. Some of this is learned intuitively. Back pain patients should not sit on soft couches or recliners. The most common alteration would be those patients with knee or hip arthritis who can't jog anymore or have trouble doing certain exercises. If you are of the mindset where you can accept alterations it may prolong your joint life.

01/22/2013

The role of exercise in osteoarthritis is very individual. Some individuals improve with nonweightbearing exercises such as stationary biking if they have knee problems. Others pain is accentuated by exercise. Certainly enough exercise should be obtained to try to maintain motion in the joint and joint function and an attempt to maintain the muscle structure around the joint which has been theorized to help re**rd the progression of the osteoarthritis. The unpleasant truth is that a majority of people have increased discomfort with increasing exercise, one of the most common complaints of patients relating to this disease.

01/22/2013

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis tend to strike in different places in the hands. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the knuckles in the hand itself and interfere with function and be painful. Osteoarthritis tends to not be painful only cause deformity at the ends of the fingers except for the area at the base of the thumb. Sometimes the deformity can be quite marked at the ends of the fingers in osteoarthritis, (look at Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones play guitar and the marked deformities he has at the ends of his fingers").