LOOK: The SOSI Orthopaedic team that serves Memorial Regional Health patients in Craig.
Orthopaedics at MRH: Get back to life as you know it
World-class care in joint replacements, pain relief, sports medicine and so much more — right here in Craig
If you’re interested in receiving more information about orthopaedic offerings at MRH and how our SOSI partners can help you and your family, feel free to sign up for our bi-monthly Living Well newsletter here.
What if we told you that world-class, full-service orthopaedic care is offered right here in Craig, Colorado? Thanks to our partnership with the Steamboat Orthopaedic and Spine Institute (SOSI), it is.
The SOSI orthopaedic team brings a multi-disciplinary team approach to patient care and works with Memorial Regional Health primary care physicians, physical therapists and physician assistants to ensure patients always receive the best individualized plans for their lifestyle. The patient’s symptoms, the joint affected and its severity will determine the best course of action, but our experts will work with you every step of the way.
Orthopaedic care at MRH isn’t new — in fact, it’s been offered for more than 20 years, according to MRH Total Joint Program Director Dr. Bobby Howarth. However, with the assistance of the SOSI team, the service line is more comprehensive, and more subspecialties are offered than ever before, including hand/wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, total joint replacement, foot/ankle, and operative and non-operative spine.
No matter what your problem may be, you’ll be connected with a top-tier expert in the field that your specific problem requires.
“When you’re in pain, it affects everything you do — sleeping, eating, any type of exercise,” Dr. Howarth said. “Our goal is to take that pain away so you can do all the things you want to do and what you have done in the past.”
Joint pain relief for shoulder, knee, hip and arthritis pain
Orthopaedic specialists can help with joint pain in the shoulder, knee, hip or as a result of arthritis. It’s time to visit with a specialist if your pain interrupts your daily levels of activity — and the earlier, the better.
For example, if you have shoulder pain that prevents you from reaching behind your back to tuck in your shirt or putting away dishes overhead, you might need some professional help, according to Dr. Alex Meininger, orthopaedic surgeon at MRH.
“Any lifestyle functions that are being disrupted can cause patients to come in and seek treatment,” he said. “Living in pain should not be normal.”
Surgery isn’t necessarily the first suggestion for patients’ joint pain; in fact, it’s usually the last course of action after other nonoperative methods are exhausted. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, topical formulations, balance and/or exercise programs and injectables are other helpful tools that are tried first to help with relief.
According to the MRH Physical Therapy team, early physical therapy intervention can help prevent many types of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunctions. It helps with pain, weakness, loss of mobility, decreased strength, difficulty performing daily tasks, difficulty walking and poor balance.
“Oftentimes, we discover muscle imbalances or impaired movement patterns that are the cause of the pain,” said Ericka Lucas, physical therapist at MRH. “Over time, these impairments cause the joint or tissue to wear down and this can lead to pain and dysfunction.”
PT treatment plans vary based on patient presentation but may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education, dry needling, therapeutic taping, tool-assisted myofascial release, cupping, balance training, gait training, posture re-education and activity modification.
If everything else has been tried and isn’t working for the patient, that’s when surgery can become the best option to get back to a normal lifestyle.
LOOK: The MRH Physical Therapy team
Why MRH Orthopaedics?
- Local
- Experienced
- Individualized care
- Exhaustion of other methods before operative care is suggested
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Qualified
Bringing big city care to you
MRH is proud to work with SOSI to provide patients high-quality care that outshines larger hospitals in bigger cities. The orthopaedic providers in Craig work with patients of all ages and abilities, from older adults who want their walks to the mailbox to be less painful to world-class athletes — and everyone in between.
MRH offers complete and comprehensive specialty services catering to every joint you can think of, including hand/wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, total joint replacement, foot/ankle, and operative and non-operative spine. Each patient is assessed differently, and the team always exhausts other methods of care before an operation is considered.
Learn more here or call 970-826-2450 for more information.
Total joint surgery
From your head to toes, the orthopaedic team at MRH offers total joint surgery catering to your need and location of pain. Our comprehensive approach allows for expedited care that is minimally invasive and makes surgery and recovery as quick and easy as possible. Operations that once took up to two hours to complete now take 30 minutes.
The idea that joint surgery is only for older adults is outdated; young adults can also benefit from these procedures if they are living in pain. Surgeries are easier and more successful than ever before, and they allow you to get back to your normal activity, stay independent and extend your lifespan. MRH surgeons have access to the best implants, tools, parts and equipment available.
“One of the most gratifying things we do as surgeons and physicians is completely transforming someone’s life,” said Dr. Michael Sisk, orthopaedic surgeon at MRH. “We help get patients back to skiing, hunting, playing hockey, riding a dirt bike or simply just walking again.”
The advanced implants used at MRH are of highest quality and can last the patient up to 30 years — older implants used years ago had a lifespan of only 10 to 15 years. In fact, Dr. Sisk explained how knee implants are completely customizable to the patient to increase results.
“Modern research and technology have made knee, hip and shoulder implants far better in their longevity and performance,” Dr. Sisk said.
A focus on spine
A variety of spine services are available at MRH with Dr. Clint Devin, board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon. His aims to preserve a patient’s motion and durability, often taking a thoughtful approach that addresses all issues of the body that could be contributing to their pain.
“We provide the patient with comprehensive manuals that include information on common spine problems, what their treatment options are and expectations, how their diagnosis will affect them long term and how surgery can help,” he explained. “Our goal is to reduce a person’s disability such that they are able to enjoy an active lifestyle in our active community,”
Dr. Devin said spine surgery has a national 90 percent satisfaction rate and patients notice improvements in their pain almost immediately.
“MRH is exceeding national benchmarks in a rural town and is producing a large number of safe outcomes — sometimes better than major academic medical centers in large cities,” he said.
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a subspecialty of orthopaedics in which specialists undergo more advanced, specific training to attain additional certifications. Sports medicine focuses on getting athletes, ranging from student and college athletes to active adults and weekend warriors, back to their sport of choice.
MRH orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists have experience working with athletes from various backgrounds, including young athletes with overuse injuries to adults returning to running post-surgery. Specialists are affiliated with Moffat County High School and work directly with the school’s coaches in pre-season training programs as well as during the season.
Physical therapists utilize state-of-the-art equipment — including an anti-gravity treadmill — to explore many types of treatments for the patient including manual techniques, dry needling, vestibulocochlear training and specific balance training.
“Whether you are feeling the initial onset of pain or are post-surgery, participating in physical therapy is crucial in both returning to sport and allowing continued participation in a sport with reduced risk of injury,” Lucas said. “Patients should come ready to practice and work through the movements of their sport and can expect an individualized home program that requires outside participation. Adherence to this program is crucial for recovery.”
Dr. Sisk said the entire sports medicine team works together to ensure the patient has a successful outcome. Physicians serve not only as a doctor, but also as a coach and advisor.
“We understand we work better as a team and that outcomes are best when the patient gives us their full attention and effort,” he concluded. “We are Craig’s doctors, and we want to help keep care local. MRH has given us the staff and support to provide a high level of care that patients can’t get anywhere else.”
At home tips for joint care
When it comes to keeping joints healthy, you’ve got to move them or lose them. Joint pain can sometimes come from misuse or neglect, so simple beginner exercises or stretching programs can prove beneficial.
MRH recommends seeking professional advice from a licensed physical therapist or orthopaedic specialist to develop the most effective at-home program; however, maintaining an active lifestyle and eating a well-balanced diet is key to long-term health and well-being.
Some exercises to consider include walking, resistance training, stretching, jogging, biking and hiking. Focus on exercises that strengthen your core to protect your back and lower extremities.
