With the cost of workers’ compensation claims continuously on the rise, employers have an important decision to make: where do I send my employees when an injury occurs? In this blog, we will compare the benefits of seeking Direct to Specialist care versus the standard approach to managing injured employees.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a bone in the back, called a “vertebra,” slides forward over the bone below it. This condition, Treatable at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena clinics, most often occurs in the lumbar spine, or lower back, and can result in nerve root damage leading to back pain, numbness, weakness in the legs, or in some rare cases, loss of control over bladder and bowels. Occasionally, this condition may exhibit no symptoms at all.

Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease (LCPD) is a hip disorder caused by a disruption of blood flow to the femoral head. Lack of an adequate blood supply causes the head of the femur to die. This condition is rare and affects only children. This condition is rare and affects only children and is treatable at MidAmerica’s Pediatric Clinics located in Palos Hills and Mokena.

Avascular necrosis, or osteonecrosis, is a condition where bone tissue dies from lack of blood supply. Without enough blood, small breaks begin to form in the bone and potentially cause disintegration. While anyone can develop this condition, it typically occurs in middle-aged adults between the ages of thirty and sixty. If treated early enough at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills or Mokena clinics, further bone damage can usually be minimized through home treatment and therapy; surgery is a last resort. (Mayo Clinic)

While most people who have hip dysplasia are born with the condition, it is possible to develop later in life. In most cases, patients of hip dysplasia experience relief after a few months of at-home treatment and therapy.

Causes, Symptoms, & Risk Factors

Hip dysplasia is most commonly a result of the ball joint of the hip being moved out of place while in the womb. Even during the early stages of development, the ball and the socket rely on each other in order to form correctly. During the final trimester, the womb may become so cramped that the ball joint shifts from the socket, causing dysplasia. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Thus far, we’ve discussed Rotator Cuff Tears and knee injuries, but the knee and elbow aren’t the only joints vulnerable to injury for baseball players. The elbow is also commonly subject to distress, especially when it comes to throwing athletes, such as pitchers and infielders. Elbow injuries typically result from repeated, high-stress motion, which leads to overuse of the joint and can be very painful. Luckily, this condition is treatable at MidAmerica’s Sports Medicine Clinic located in Palos Hills and Mokena.

Have you ever experienced a popping or snapping sensation in your hip when walking or shifting your body? You may be experiencing Snapping Hip Syndrome, also known as Dancer’s Hip. While typically harmless, Snapping Hip Syndrome can cause painful swelling of the fluid sacs that cushion joints. Luckily, many patients have success treating Snapping Hip Syndrome with home treatments and physical therapy.

Causes & Symptoms

Snapping Hip Syndrome occurs when a tendon or muscle moves over the knobby bones in one’s hip. The most common symptom that patients experience is a cracking or snapping sound and sensitivity when exercising the hip. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

While baseball players often experience shoulder injuries, the knee is also a common potential pain point. Due to the complex bone, cartilage, ligament, and tendon structure, any movement—like running from base to base, twisting while your foot is planted or landing on a flexed knee sliding into home—can result in a serious knee injury requiring treatment at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills or Mokena clinics.