Understanding Knee Pain: Seeking Solutions for Joint Discomfort
I would like to consult a physician regarding joint pain issues? Hello Doctor, I would like to ask you a question. A few years ago, I dislocated my left kneecap while playing basketball. After the emergency treatment, I did not follow up on my knee. (I also had a dislocation in...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Xiao Q, I understand your point that there is no official medical term for "periosteal displacement." However, with a knee injury, there could be potential damage to the cartilage, ligaments, tendonitis, or bursitis. Each condition is different and has its own char...[Read More] Understanding Knee Pain: Seeking Solutions for Joint Discomfort
Understanding Osteoarthritis: Treatment Options and Pain Management Strategies
Degenerative arthritis This question is on behalf of my mother, who is 55 years old. She has been experiencing knee pain for about 10 years, which has been persistent despite various treatments, including both Western and traditional medicine, as well as home remedies, all of whi...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Little Pot: 1. The success rate of arthroscopic lavage surgery ranges from 65% to 80%, primarily depending on whether the underlying cause is accurately identified. The rate of maintaining improvement for over six months is even lower, at about only 30%. 2. In fact, there ar...[Read More] Understanding Osteoarthritis: Treatment Options and Pain Management Strategies
Understanding Cartilage Tears: Recovery and Future Implications
Cartilage rupture Last year, I had an accident that caused my knee to dislocate. Afterward, I consulted a doctor who recommended arthroscopic surgery to remove the damaged ligaments so that I could heal naturally. However, after the surgery, my leg still hasn't fully recover...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Ah-Xiang, your symptoms are typical of a meniscal tear. An MRI should be able to reveal the condition of the meniscus. Arthroscopic surgery can provide a comprehensive treatment for the meniscus; however, the term "comprehensive treatment" may not align with your i...[Read More] Understanding Cartilage Tears: Recovery and Future Implications
Understanding Snapping Hip: Causes, Treatments, and Long-Term Solutions
Snapping knee? The left hip and knee often make sounds, and after walking a short distance, I experience weakness and severe pain in my leg, to the point where I can't walk. When I squat and try to stand up, there is pain in my knee. I have visited Chimei Hospital, where the...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Kay, your question mixes two issues: snapping knee and knee pain. These two problems are not the same. I hope you clarify them before deciding on surgery. Snapping knee does not necessarily require surgery; the key is your tolerance for pain. Perhaps you should consult other...[Read More] Understanding Snapping Hip: Causes, Treatments, and Long-Term Solutions
Understanding Muscle Fibrosis: Treatment Options for Shoulder Pain
Muscle fibrosis I would like to ask about my shoulders. After a strain, they have not healed, and a doctor mentioned that I have developed fibrosis. I feel tightness, stiffness, and heaviness in both shoulders every day, and despite undergoing various treatments, there has been n...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear young one, minor ailments do not require surgery; this is basic knowledge. Not every problem can be solved with a single approach. You are only eighteen, so there is no such thing as frozen shoulder in your case. Generally, for a strain, taking medication and possibly underg...[Read More] Understanding Muscle Fibrosis: Treatment Options for Shoulder Pain
Understanding Unexplained Back Pain: Causes and Solutions
Pain that cannot be diagnosed? Hello Dr. Yang, I would like to ask a question. In the lower back, just below the waist, I suddenly experienced severe pain in the middle of the night that made it impossible for me to turn over or get out of bed. The pain was abnormal and even ac...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear A-Dou, based on your examination results and symptoms, it appears that you have tendonitis in your back. Generally, muscle soreness in the back of young women is often caused by poor posture. Anti-inflammatory medications are effective, but a better approach is to identify t...[Read More] Understanding Unexplained Back Pain: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Shoulder Asymmetry: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Shoulder asymmetry? Hello Dr. Yang, I had a shoulder dislocation from a car accident in the past. At that time, my family took me to a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, and they thought everything was fine. Recently, a classmate mentioned that my shoulders appear uneven. I occ...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Rabbit, the issue you mentioned is likely an acromioclavicular joint dislocation. If you do not feel weakness, treatment may not be necessary. However, if restoring normal shoulder height is important to you, then surgery may be required. You can come to my clinic for furthe...[Read More] Understanding Shoulder Asymmetry: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Understanding Osteomyelitis After Knee Replacement Surgery: A Patient's Journey
Osteomyelitis Hello Dr. Yang: My father-in-law is 66 years old. He underwent knee replacement surgery in March, but 1 to 2 months after the surgery, he reported experiencing significant pain in his knee while walking. However, during his follow-up appointment at the hospital, the...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Zijing, if you are concerned about osteomyelitis, a nuclear medicine scan, which has over 90% accuracy, is a more precise examination than blood tests and X-rays. I recommend you consider trying it.[Read More] Understanding Osteomyelitis After Knee Replacement Surgery: A Patient's Journey
Is ACL Reconstruction Necessary? Insights from a Knee Injury Experience
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction issues? Hello Dr. Yang! I have a question I would like to ask you. Four years ago, I suffered a rupture of my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a meniscus tear with displacement. I underwent arthroscopic surgery six months later, but a...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Ah Yan, I believe you have also gathered a lot of information. For orthopedic surgeons who are truly professionally trained, the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery are excellent, and the recovery is fast. There is really no reason not to proc...[Read More] Is ACL Reconstruction Necessary? Insights from a Knee Injury Experience
Understanding Vertebroplasty: Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives for Osteoporosis
Vertebroplasty with bone cement My father is 62 years old and often experiences numbness in his shoulders and arms, along with back pain when getting in and out of bed. He went to see a doctor. The traditional Chinese medicine doctor diagnosed him with severe scoliosis, which is ...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Andrea, you have truly put in a lot of effort, and you have thoroughly researched the pros and cons of bone cement treatment. However, the real issue is not whether bone cement treatment is good or bad, but rather: should bone cement be used for treatment? According to your ...[Read More] Understanding Vertebroplasty: Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives for Osteoporosis
Managing Osteoarthritis: Is Move Free the Right Supplement for You?
Degenerative knee osteoarthritis I have osteoarthritis in my knees, which causes pain when walking. After being diagnosed by an orthopedic doctor, I was advised to take "Wei Gu Li." Since this health supplement is not covered by health insurance, I purchased Move Free, ...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Ms. Chang, you have not yet met the criteria for health insurance coverage for calcium supplements. The recommended dosage for general calcium supplements is three times a day, one tablet each time, or twice a day, two tablets each time. There are no specific safety concerns...[Read More] Managing Osteoarthritis: Is Move Free the Right Supplement for You?
Understanding Hip Pain: Is Revision Surgery the Right Solution?
Hip joint and pain concerns? Hello, doctor. I had a wide joint replacement surgery in 1999, but for the past few years, I have been experiencing daily pain and difficulty walking. I have had follow-up visits, but the doctor said that another surgery would suffice. May I ask, will...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Chen Xiaopang, what you mentioned is that hip joint revision surgery is more complex and troublesome than the first surgery. Is it not possible to use the "minimally invasive surgery" technique you referred to for the second replacement? This is a good question to ...[Read More] Understanding Hip Pain: Is Revision Surgery the Right Solution?
Impact of Scoliosis Surgery on Women's Future Health and Pregnancy
The impact of scoliosis surgery on a girl's future life? Before the surgery, the cervical spine was at 35 degrees, the thoracic spine at 48 degrees, and the lumbar spine at 26 degrees. After the surgery, the cervical spine measured 30 degrees, the thoracic spine 35 degrees, ...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Xiao Dai, many of the questions you asked still remain unanswered. Surgery is typically recommended for scoliosis when the curvature exceeds 40 degrees because, statistically, a curvature greater than 40 degrees is associated with significant back pain and premature aging. A...[Read More] Impact of Scoliosis Surgery on Women's Future Health and Pregnancy
Is My Foot Healing Properly After a Fracture? Key Recovery Insights
Could you please provide the content you would like me to translate? Hello Doctor: I fell while walking, and the doctor diagnosed a fracture in the bones of my foot, requiring a cast. The cast was removed after five weeks, and the doctor reviewed the X-rays, stating that I was he...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear, most people find it hard to believe that bone healing takes more than two months, but it is true. It may even take longer. Your condition appears to be quite normal, so there is no need to worry.[Read More] Is My Foot Healing Properly After a Fracture? Key Recovery Insights
Understanding Sports Injuries: Knee and Abdominal Pain Management
Please inquire about sports injuries and rehabilitation issues? 1. Knee area: Five years ago, while playing badminton, I fell after my right foot couldn't move forward while trying to save a shot. My knee started to hurt. After resting for nearly a month, I had no issues wit...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Arron, 1. After reviewing your description, it seems there are no issues with the cartilage or ligaments in your knee. If you need further confirmation, please consult an orthopedic specialist nearby; I believe you will receive a comprehensive answer. 2. A strain in the ...[Read More] Understanding Sports Injuries: Knee and Abdominal Pain Management
Effective Scar Removal After Knee Replacement Surgery: Tips and Treatments
How to reduce scars after surgery? After undergoing knee arthroplasty, how can the resulting scar be minimized? Is the use of artificial skin effective? Should topical ointments be applied, or are there other more effective methods? Could you please recommend some ointment brands...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear young lady, after undergoing joint replacement surgery, it is effective to use silicone gel to reduce scars within three months. After three months, you may use corticosteroid ointments or corticosteroid injections; however, the use of corticosteroids has specific guidelines...[Read More] Effective Scar Removal After Knee Replacement Surgery: Tips and Treatments
Effective Treatments for Knee Joint Effusion: Beyond Aspiration and Medication
Knee joint effusion Hello, Since the end of April, I have experienced swelling and fluid accumulation in both of my knee joints three times. After multiple examinations at Veterans General Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (including routine blood tests, urinalysis, can...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Pisces, indeed there are some patients who experience knee effusion with no identifiable cause. Generally, we categorize these patients under "inflammation." As for the cause of the inflammation, it could be due to degeneration, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, bacte...[Read More] Effective Treatments for Knee Joint Effusion: Beyond Aspiration and Medication
Managing Severe Knee Cartilage Degeneration: Treatment Options and Insights
The knee cartilage has degenerated to the point where the two bones are almost fused together? Symptoms: The mother (60 years old) has degenerative knee cartilage to the point where the two bones are nearly fused. Treatment history: Received five hyaluronic acid injections with r...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Lan, 1. Glucosamine can essentially be considered a dietary supplement, and it can still be used by patients undergoing dialysis. 2. The laser method you mentioned refers to arthroscopic surgery. Based on your description, it seems that the patient has reached a severe le...[Read More] Managing Severe Knee Cartilage Degeneration: Treatment Options and Insights
Understanding Spinal Ligament Tears: Care, Recovery, and Risks
Spinal ligament tear Hello Dr. Yang, Four days ago, I experienced lower back pain due to an external impact and sought medical attention. After an X-ray, the doctor diagnosed me with a ligament tear in my spine and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. I would like to ask how...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Hello, spinal ligament tears are commonly referred to as sprains. They are generally treated with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, along with appropriate rest and heat therapy. Recovery typically takes about two to three weeks.[Read More] Understanding Spinal Ligament Tears: Care, Recovery, and Risks
Can Artificial Knees Squat? Insights for Arthritis Patients
Can a knee prosthesis allow for squatting? Hello Dr. Yang! I am a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, and my knee joint has been severely damaged. My immunologist has recommended that I undergo knee replacement surgery. However, I would like to understand more about the functional...
Dr. Yang Zhengfan reply Orthopedics
Dear Sandy, the lifespan of artificial joints is based on statistical data collected from patients over the years. High-flexion artificial joints have only been present in the West for a little over a decade and in the Taiwanese market for just six years, so there is still no def...[Read More] Can Artificial Knees Squat? Insights for Arthritis Patients