Author: Phil Ghuneim – Workers’ Compensation Coordinator/ Corporate Communication Manager

In 2015, Los Angeles Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, suffered an acute full-thickness rotator cuff tear in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. From the moment he approached the bench, Bryant was immediately tended to by the team’s head physician and orthopedic specialist. Just 7 days after he was definitively diagnosed, Bryant underwent surgery to repair the torn cuff.

Compare Bryant’s treatment to the timeline of one of our patients who sustained the same injury- we’ll call them “Patient X” for confidentiality’s sake. Patient X suffered an acute full-thickness rotator cuff tear while at work. After filing a claim, Patient X was sent to a series of healthcare providers over the course of 4 months before seeing a specialist (all while a definitive diagnosis had yet to be made). Finally, the patient was seen by an orthopedic specialist, who was able to definitively diagnose the injury and requested authorization for surgery.

Have you had difficulty going about your daily activities due to a bad hip? If you suffer from chronic pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your hip joints, you may be a candidate for hip replacement surgery. Hip arthroplasty, also known as total hip replacement surgery, involves replacing the hip joint with an implant ( or “prosthesis”) to alleviate pain and improve mobility. Hip replacement is a serious procedure, so while other, less invasive treatments should be considered initially, hip replacement surgery is a common and effective way to treat severe hip damage.

Do you suffer from lower back and leg pain? If so, you may have heard about a treatment called epidural steroid injection, or ESI, an outpatient procedure offered by MidAmerica Orthopaedics Clinic in Palos Hills used to treat pain caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. ESI is generally used only when other forms of medication and physical therapy are ineffective at managing pain.

Wrist tendonitis, also known as “De Quervain’s tendinosis,” occurs when the tendons around the base of the thumb are irritated or constricted. Tendons are rope-like structures that attach muscle to bone and are covered by a slippery, soft-tissue layer called the “tendon sheath.” The term “tendinosis” specifically refers to a swelling of the tendons and tendon sheath, which can cause pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist, particularly when forming a fist, grasping an object, or turning the wrist. (Ortho Info)

Patellar tendinitis, also known as “jumper’s knee,” is an injury to the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). The patellar tendon works with the muscles at the front of the thigh to enable running, kicking and jumping. This condition is most common in athletes whose sports involve frequent jumping (such as basketball and volleyball players) though it is possible for non-athletes to develop this condition as well. Patellar Tendinitis is common sports injury, and is treatable at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena Sports Medicine Clinics. (Mayo Clinic)

Education Videos

MidAmerica believes that patient education is vital to providing the highest quality of hand and upper extremity care. Please visit our animated patient education center to learn more about common conditions treated and procedures performed by our specialists. We welcome patients from Oak Lawn, Worth, Evergreen Park, Burbank, Alsip, Bridgeview, Frankfort, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Homer Glen and New Lenox.

Ankle tendinitis, also known as peroneal tendinosis, occurs when tendons around the ankle joint become inflamed. It is caused by overuse of the ankle with repeated movements. Ankle tendinitis is most common in long-distance runners, dancers, gymnasts, basketball and football players and is treatable at the MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena (Sports Medicine Clinics).

Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located behind the gluteus maximus, spasms and causes pain in the buttock. The piriformis muscle is small and located deep in the buttock, connecting to the top of each femur. Its purpose is to rotate the hip and turn the leg and foot outward. (Spine Health)

You’ve probably seen the post: different foot shapes can reveal your personality type? While we can’t prove this to be true from a medical standpoint, we can affirm that different foot structures can reveal why you are in pain.

Flat foot is one type of foot structure that often causes discomfort or pain, especially during rigorous exercise. In this blog, we’ll discuss what causes flat foot, when you should consult a physician and some potential treatment options available at MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena clinics.