General Orthopedics

Arthritis is inflammation and pain felt within the joints of the body, such as the knee, shoulder, hip or wrist. You will notice you have arthritis if you experience stiffness, swelling, redness and a limited range of motion in the joint causing you grief.

Treatment: Our orthopedic surgeon and team have a variety of options to treat arthritis including sports medicine, corticosteroid shots and platelet-rich plasma injections.

A broken ankle occurs when you fracture a bone in the ankle joint. You may experience a broken ankle if you accidentally twist, roll or trip underneath your ankle. Some of the common signs to watch for include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tender to Touch
• Intense Pain
• Your ankle feels “out of place”
• Difficulty putting any weight on your foot

Treatment: The first thing you should do if you suspect you have broken your ankle is perform the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) while you wait for your appointment. When you come in, Dr. Gregory Schumacher will examine your ankle with diagnostic tools such as an X-ray or an MRI to determine the severity of the break. If it is severe, you may require surgery to help you get back on your feet.

Ankle impingement is chronic pain, mostly seen in athletes, that develops either in the front or back of the ankle joint. You may experience ankle impingement as the result of scar tissue, inflammation or bone spurs found on the ankle joint. Bone spurs can form by putting too much strain on the front of your joints when participating in sports such as dance, basketball, soccer, football and more.

Signs to watch for include:

• Swelling
• Limited motion
• Feeling pain as you bend your toes down or raise your ankle

Treatment: Many cases of ankle impingement can be treated with nonoperative treatments such as physical therapy and a pain reliever. However, if Dr. Gregory Schumacher finds problems with the bone and tissue in your ankle, he may recommend an arthroscopic correction to surgically remove any tissue that is causing blockage and irritation.

A high ankle sprain can occur whenever there is damage or a tear in the upper ligaments of your ankle. You may experience a high ankle sprain while jumping or running while participating in sports. Some of the signs to look for include:

• Swelling and bruising above the ankle
• Difficulty walking on your toes
• Pain when you move around your foot

Treatment: Many cases of high ankle sprains are treated through self-care at home with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation). However, if you have significantly injured ligaments that have caused a separation between the tibia and fibula bones, our orthopedic surgeon may need to perform surgery.

Sprains occur when you accidentally stretch or tear a ligament within a joint of the body. These can develop from any type of physical activity. Signs you may have a sprain include:

• Swelling and bruising
• Tenderness and pain
• Difficulty moving around the joint

Treatment: If you have a sprain, our orthopedic surgeon may have you wear a brace or splint, perform exercises to check the mobility of the sprain, or encourage you to keep icing the affected area.

There is a significant difference between a simple fracture and a complex fracture. One involves a bone broken in two pieces, while the other contains several broken bones. These occur as the result of arthritis, osteoporosis, a sports injury, collision or overuse of the problem area.

Treatment: If you have a fracture or complex break, our orthopedic surgeon will have you wear a plaster or fiberglass cast to correct the position of the bones to allow them to heal. Dr. Gregory Schumacher may also perform external or internal fixation to hold the bones together with screws.

A stress fracture is a small crack found typically in the bone of your lower leg or foot. These happen as the result of increasing your intensity while being physically active or putting too much stress on these areas; weight, age or improper nutrition can also contribute to a fracture.

Signs you may have a stress fracture include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness when touching the bone

Treatment: To properly treat a stress fracture, our orthopedic surgeon and team will need to perform an MRI or capture an X-ray to determine the severity of the crack. Afterward, Dr. Gregory Schumacher may have you wear a cast to help you recover and encourage you to perform less strenuous physical activities. You may need surgery if necessary.

A broken or dislocated bone can occur as a consequence of osteoporosis, an injury or overuse of the joints. You will know if you have a broken or a dislocated bone when you have:

• An out-of-place joint or limb
• Extreme pain and discomfort
• Bruising or redness
• Possible bleeding
• Difficulty moving your limb

Treatment: Our orthopedic surgeon and team can treat a broken and dislocated bone through either surgical or nonoperative treatment.

Shin splints occur when you experience inflammation and pain in the inner edge of your shin bone. This typically develops as the result of performing too much rigorous activity. Common symptoms you will experience with a shin splint include:

• Sharp pain and tenderness
• A lasting sore spot

Treatment: A shin splint can either be treated with nonoperative measures, such as the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation), supportive shoes and pain relievers, or surgical treatment. With a visit to Schumacher Orthopedics, our orthopedic surgeon will perform an examination to determine which is right for you.