Severe pain – whether from arthritic knees, aching hips or a bone fracture – slows us down, dampens our moods and affects the quality of our lives. At Adventist Midwest Health, orthopedic programs and procedures are geared toward helping you alleviate even the most serious pain.

“We treat a range of orthopedic conditions, from sports injuries and cartilage tears to fractures and arthritis,” says Paul Sauer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. “However, all of our patients have one thing in common: they want to return quickly to their active lifestyles.”

Advancing orthopedics while helping patients
Thanks to newer techniques and more advanced equipment, people are staying active longer. “There’s been a movement in orthopedics to make procedures less invasive, which allows patients to recover faster and with less pain,” Dr. Sauer says. Arthroscopy, he says, is the best example of how advancements in orthopedics are helping patients.

Arthroscopy comes from two Greek words, “arthro” (joint) and “skopein” (to look). Although arthroscopy literally means “to look within the joint,” orthopedic surgeons are doing much more than looking.

“Because arthroscopy allows us to see inside the most complex joints, we can determine a final diagnosis, which is more accurate than using X-ray or MRI studies,” Dr. Sauer says. Orthopedic surgeons do this by making a small incision in the patient’s skin and inserting a miniature camera (an arthroscope) to see inside the joint. Arthroscopy often is used to detect and treat the following:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Shoulder impingement
• Cartilage tears
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Loose bodies of bone or cartilage in joints

Turning the table on pain
Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital offers two specialized orthopedic care programs, the Joint Replacement Program and the Fracture Care Center, to help patients combat troublesome joints along with bone or cartilage setbacks.

The Joint Replacement Program offers patients who will undergo a joint replacement procedure specialized care in a dedicated Orthopedic Care Unit. Before surgery, patients receive preoperative education and assessments. After surgery, patients are released with individualized discharge plans. “The number of total joint replacement surgeries is expected to jump to 3 million per year by 2030,” Dr. Sauer says. “It’s more important than ever to have these programs in place so patients can get the individualized care they need.”

The Fracture Care Center helps patients with orthopedic trauma and injuries. Surgeons, physicians, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide comprehensive care to patients from the moment they enter the hospital through recovery. Some of its specialties include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Bone infection
• Limb salvage
• Limb lengthening
• Deformity correction
• Minimally invasive treatments

“Patients with an orthopedic injury should seek medical attention right away,” says Dr. Sauer. “Injuries and conditions are always easier to treat when they are recognized at an early stage.”

Returning to an active lifestyle
To maintain an active lifestyle, Dr. Sauer stresses the importance of exercise – no matter what your age. “Focus on joint-friendly exercises three days a week for 30 minutes each session,” explains Dr. Sauer. “Swimming is the best exercise you can do because it’s great for staying in shape and it’s easy on joints.”