Sports Medicine Frisco TX: 6 Running Injuries To Watch Out For

Whether you’re training for competition or just doing it for your health, running is one of the best physical activities you can engage in because it can be done anywhere, at anytime and it doesn’t require any special equipment.  But physicians who specialize in sports medicine in Frisco TX will tell you that, while running can be beneficial to overall health, there are just as many running injuries as there are runners.  Why?  Because running is hard on particular parts of the human body even with the proper pre-run stretch and the most expensive shoes.  If you’re a runner, you can expect to sustain at least one of these injuries in your running lifetime:

Runner’s Knee.  Runner’s knee is an irritation of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap.  Almost any runner is vulnerable to this injury but it’s most common in people who have biomechanical issues like overpronation or weak hips.  If you wake up with pain on the inside or outside of your knee that doesn’t get better as the day goes on, you should seek the help of a doctor of sports medicine in Frisco TX.

Achilles Tendonitis. The Achilles tendon connects the two major calf muscles to the back of the heel.  If too much stress is put on the tendon, it can become irritated.  You are at risk for this problem is you dramatically increase your training and your calves are weak or tight.  The sign that you need help?  Severe pain and swelling above your heel even when you’re resting.

Hamstring Problems.  Hamstrings are the muscles that run down the back of the thigh.  They can become a problem if they are too tight or too weak to perform the right way, which means that people who have overstretched these muscles are vulnerable as are sedentary people who never stretch them.  A severe hamstring injury can include sharp, sudden pain or a snapping or popping sound while running.  In addition, the area will look bruised.

Plantar Fasciitis.  Small tears or inflammations of the tendons and ligaments that run from the heel to the toe are called plantar fasciitis.  If you have high or low arches or if your foot rolls excessively inward or excessively outward when you run, you are vulnerable to plantar fasciitis.  If you warm up for a run and you still have constant arch or heel pain and tenderness that doesn’t fade away, get medical help.

Shinsplints.  Shinsplints is a pain that results from small tears in the muscles around your tibia or shin bone.  If you’re a new runner or you’re coming back after a long lay-off, you are vulnerable to shinsplints.  When should you consider going to the doctor?  When you have continuous pain and tenderness down your leg even when you’re walking.  You may even have a fracture of the tibia if your pain increases.

Stress Fractures. Stress fractures happen over time to runners who overtrain and place too much stress on their shins, feet and heels.  If you notice pain to any of these areas building up as you run, walk or just put weight on them, you need to seek medical help for a diagnosis.

When you need the help of a doctor of sports medicine in Frisco TX, call Texas Orthopedic Partners at (469) 293-4000.  You can also visit our website at www.texasorthopartners.com to learn more about our physicians and our services.

sports medicine frisco tx

Texas Orthopedic Partners

4401 Coit Rd, Suite 203

Frisco, Texas 75035

(469) 293-4000

Orthopedic Surgeon Frisco TX: 3 Most Common Types Of Hand Problems

If you’ve suffered trauma or damage related to overuse to one or both of your hands, you know how difficult it is to try to live your everyday life without full hand function.  Performing tasks like dressing, eating and writing require sensation and movement in both the joints and the muscles of the hands.  When any of these tasks becomes impossible, you must seek the help of an orthopedic surgeon in Frisco TX.  An orthopedic surgeon can evaluate, diagnose and treat your hand problem using minimally-invasive techniques that can get you back to using your hands without pain and without limitations.

Although there are a number of problems that can occur to the human hand, wrist and related structures, like fractures and cuts, these are the three that an orthopedic surgeon in Frisco TX sees most frequently:

1. Arthritis.  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive and disabling disease that causes inflammation of the joints.  While RA can affect every joint of the body, it’s effects are most obvious in the hand, where it often deforms the finger joints, forcing fingers into awkward positions that are painful and limit the usefulness of the hands.  The disease can often be managed without surgery with the use of splints, steroid injections and anti-inflammatory medications; but it can also be dealt with surgically in a variety of ways that can return a great deal of function to the hand and relieve pain.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  This is a painful condition that affects the hand and the fingers and that is caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the wrist and alongside the flexor tendons of the hand.  It is generally caused by repetitive movements over a long period of time.  As with arthritis, the condition can be treated with or without surgery; but it is extremely important to see an orthopedic surgeon in Frisco TX as soon as a patient feels tingling or numbness in the hand as treatments are usually more successful in the early stages of the condition.

3. Ganglion Cysts.  These cysts are the most common type of mass occurring in the hand area and are normally found on the back of the wrist.  Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled and rarely cancerous.  They are an inflammation that arises from irritation of the ligaments, joint linings or tendon sheaths inside the hand and wrist.  While cysts can often change in size over time – sometimes disappearing altogether – they can also be painful enough to interfere with the function of the hand.  If this is the case, an orthopedic surgeon in Frisco TX may recommend surgical removal of the cyst.

If you’re experiencing chronic problems with one or both of your hands that are making everyday tasks difficult, call us at Texas Orthopedic Partners at (469) 293-4000 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.  You can also visit us online at www.texasorthopartners.com to find out more about our services.

How Can an Orthopedic Hand Surgeon in Frisco TX Help You?

Let’s face it: you need your hands for essentially everything you do. Whether you type on a computer, run a lawnmower, or drive semi trucks for a living, you need your hands to work. The hands are one part of the body most people take for granted until they have problems with them. There are 27 bones in each of your hands, and if time, injury or illness has caused them to have problems, you may need an orthopedic hand surgeon in Frisco TX.

Common Hand Problems

Injuries
You have probably had your hand slammed in a door at one time or another, right? If you are the accident-prone type, this may happen more often for you than it does for others. Even minor injuries can have long-lasting effects on your hands. So whether you broke your finger as a kid or had several bad sprains in your adult life, these injuries might have caused permanent muscle or nerve damage. These problems can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. That’s where an orthopedic hand surgeon in Frisco TX comes in.

Arthritis
Many people don’t think of the hands as joints, but they are. In fact, there are around 15 different “joints” on each hand, where knuckles bend and connect. Arthritis can affect each of these connection points, and it can also affect the wrist joint. Arthritis can be extremely painful and can limit range of motion and movement. Talk to an orthopedic hand surgeon in Frisco TX to discuss options with your arthritis.

Infections
Something as simple as dropping a stapler or book on your hand at the wrong angle can burst blood vessels, and something as simple as cutting your nails too short can cause an infection. Cuts of any size can become infected if they aren’t treated properly, and while most infections clear up without issue, some can cause serious problems to the muscles or even bones in the hand. 

Solutions for Pain
Not every case of hand pain requires a hand surgeon in Frisco TX. In fact, most do not. But those who have problems severe enough to require surgery are thankful for that option when it is necessary.

Painkillers: Medications are fine for short-term problems, such as after an injury. But there are all sorts of risks associated with long-term painkiller use, including addiction. They aren’t an ideal or safe solution for serious hand or wrist pain.

Cold Laser Treatments: Some chiropractors and orthopedic hand specialists offer cold laser therapy. A red light is set at a specific frequency and pointed at the point of injury or soreness. Most people can’t feel the light at all, as it doesn’t have a temperature. This is a newer therapy so it isn’t as widely used as other therapies, but many people find it to be effective.

Muscle Stem Treatments: An orthopedic hand surgeon in Frisco TX may suggest getting muscle stem treatments before opting for surgery. Small sensors are placed on the injured area, and electric pulses loosen and relieve muscle tightness and tension.

Surgery: After other options are tried without success, surgery may be the answer. There are many different hand and wrist surgeries available, depending on the area of injury. Surgery is usually the final option, but often the most extreme and successful.

Get a Consultation
If you feel like you are at the end of the line and you are sick of taking painkillers for your hand problems, consider at least getting a consultation with a hand surgeon. You may be surprised by how many different options there are for whatever is ailing you. It does not hurt to explore options!

Call Texas Orthopedic Partners, one of the most trusted hand surgeons in the area, at 469-293-4000.