Many people are able to successfully treat chronic knee pain using non-surgical treatment options such as pain medication, braces, and physical therapy, but what happens if those options don’t work? If non-surgical treatment doesn’t provide relief for your chronic knee pain, you may want to consider knee replacement surgery. When is Knee Replacement Surgery Needed? The following situations are often indicators that it is time to consider knee replacement surgery: Experiencing severe knee pain when engaging in simple everyday activities such as walking or sitting One or both legs start to deve ..read more

For decades, patients who experienced chronic joint pain and inflammation had limited treatment options. They could try basic, non-surgical treatment options such as medicines, physical therapy, and bracing, or they could undergo complex surgery. There wasn’t really an in-between option. That has now changed with the introduction of IRAP. Learn more about this revolutionary treatment for joint pain. What is IRAP Therapy? IRAP therapy uses your body’s own blood to create a specialized injection that can help fight against inflammation of the joints. Once this injection is administered, people w ..read more

We rely upon our wrists to do so much on a day-to-day basis. If you experience extreme wrist pain that is sometimes accompanied by numbness and tingling in the hands or arm, you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Luckily, there are ways to relieve your pain. Non-Surgical Options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome can often be treated with non-surgical treatment options. Some non-surgical treatment options that are successful in treating wrist pain include: Ice Heat Rest Exercises Bracing Learning new ways to perform activities so the nerve isn’t compressed Carpal ..read more

The spine is supposed to have a very subtle curve when looked at from the side and it will appear extremely straight when looked directly at the front. Unfortunately for some people their spines do not appear this way. Some people have spines that are extremely bent or appear to rotate in a certain direction. These problems are called spinal deformities. Spinal deformities can be extremely painful. Luckily, the pain can be relieved by undergoing surgery to stabilize and reconstruct the spine so it no longer curves, twists, or bends in the wrong direction. Different Types of Spinal Deformities ..read more

Herniated discs, also known as ruptured or slipped discs, can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from extreme pain and discomfort to weakness and numbness that affects the arms and legs. When the symptoms you experience start to interfere with your day-to-day life, it is time to seek help from an orthopedic surgeon. Discover what treatment options may be recommended by an orthopedic surgeon to help correct your herniated disc. Non-Surgical Options to Try to Relieve Herniated Disc Pain Patients who experience minor pain and discomfort from a herniated disc may not need surgery. An orthopedic s ..read more

A sudden twist or turn can cause you to experience lower back pain. If, after a while, you notice that the pain in your lower back isn’t going away or it is preventing you from taking part in favorite activities, such as hiking, swimming, jogging, or skiing, it may be time to explore the need for orthopedic surgery. Lower Back Pain Causes More Than Just Discomfort, It can Affect Your Overall Health Experiencing extreme lower back pain can cause more than just feeling uncomfortable. It can actually affect your overall health. When you experience lower back pain, you often are unable to take par ..read more

A painful and surprisingly common condition, tendinitis involves inflammation of the tendon — a band of connective tissue that links bones and muscles. Common tendinitis locations include knees, elbows, shoulders, and, of course, the Achilles tendon. Common in ‘weekend warriors,’ tendinitis often strikes those who engage in intense exercise on an occasional basis. For example, a casual football or softball player who goes hard during athletic meet-ups every Saturday, might experience a familiar twinge of pain afterwards. Because of its association with athletics, tendinitis may be referred to ..read more

If you are suffering from joint pain in the wrist, knee, or shoulder you could be a good candidate for a debridement. A debridement procedure allows our doctor to remove damaged tissue and clean tendons in the joint. The benefit of this procedure is to improve the remaining healthy tissue by getting rid of the dead tissue that is hampering movement and flexibility. Learn more about how we use debridement here at the Orthopedic Research Clinic of Alaska. Debridement Types We provide three types of debridement at ORCA. Patients who have shoulder pain and lost the mobility of their shoulder can u ..read more

Skiing isn’t just a sport reserved for the Winter Olympics. Tens of thousands of people around the world hit the slopes as soon as a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground. The thrill of navigating runs and pushing their bodies to the limit keeps them coming back. Since it is a rigorous activity, skiing always carries a chance of injury. You can take steps to minimize that risk, so it doesn’t impede your winter fun. What are common ski injuries? Skiing engages the whole body in strenuous exercise. That means injuries can occur anywhere on your upper body or lower body without warnin ..read more

Whether this is your first Alaskan winter or you are a seasoned pro of the snow, now is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore. Rather than letting the cold temperatures zap your energy, give your body a boost with some of the best Alaskan activities for winter. Here are a few top picks from your friends here at the Orthopedic Research Clinic of Alaska. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Easily one of the most impressive Alaskan sporting events is the Iditarod. This yearly endurance race carries mushers and their dogs more than 1,000 miles. From Anchorage to Nome, the race tak ..read more