Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon, bone & rib fixer, Orthobiologics in Trauma & regenerative medicine research interest, Dad and husband🏅+ Movie mogul in training!
England, United Kingdom
Joined December 2012
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NICE advises against laser therapy and therapeutic ultrasound for osteoarthritis because evidence of benefit is insufficient.
A treatment discussion should cover what improvement to expect and how it will be assessed.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/c…
Flat feet that cause no problems usually need no treatment and should not stop you taking part in sport.
A newly flattened foot, a change affecting only one foot, or pain and difficulty walking deserve a GP assessment.
nhs.uk/conditions/flat-feet/
Going home after a general anaesthetic needs planning: arrange someone to collect you and stay with you for at least 24 hours.
You should not look after children or other dependants alone during that time. Follow your discharge advice.
nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/…
Early chronic kidney disease often has no symptoms. Blood and urine tests provide different information about kidney health.
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, ask your GP about the regular kidney checks you need.
nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-dis…
In a 100-person trial of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, ultrasound-guided steroid injections plus exercise improved pain/function scores more than placebo injections plus exercise at six months.
Both groups had rehabilitation.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3581…
Knee pain can sometimes be referred from the hip or lower back. The place you feel pain does not always identify its source.
Mention any hip or back symptoms during a knee assessment so they can be considered together.
mskdorset.nhs.uk/knee-pain/
If you are sent home with anti-embolism stockings after surgery, ask how long to wear them and how to put them on correctly.
They need to come off daily for washing and a skin check. Ask for help if you cannot manage this yourself.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng89/ch…
In people aged 65 and over, NICE advises interpreting BMI cautiously. Other health conditions and functional ability matter, and a slightly higher BMI may be protective.
Weight goals in later life need individual assessment.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246/c…
In ESCAPE, 321 adults aged 45–70 with degenerative meniscal tears were allocated to partial meniscus surgery or exercise-based physiotherapy.
At five years, physiotherapy was not inferior for patient-reported knee function.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3580…
An osteoarthritis flare can affect sleep, daily activities and wellbeing as well as joint pain.
When seeking a review, describe what has changed: which tasks are harder, how sleep is affected and how long it has lasted.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/c…
After surgery, follow your team’s instructions about washing and dressings. Avoid soaking the wound in a bath or swimming pool until it has fully healed, or your doctor says it is safe.
Ask about showering and swimming separately.
nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/…
When reviewing a cholesterol result, ask how it affects your overall cardiovascular risk. Your GP considers it alongside factors such as age, blood pressure and other conditions.
Your cholesterol target depends on that wider picture.
nhs.uk/conditions/high-chole…
In the 313-person CSAW trial, shoulder decompression offered no extra benefit over arthroscopy alone at six months.
Participants had persistent subacromial pain and intact rotator cuff tendons. This does not apply to every shoulder operation.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2916…
A low uric acid result during a painful flare does not rule out gout: levels can fall during an attack.
If gout is strongly suspected, NICE advises repeating a result below 360 micromol/L at least two weeks after the flare settles.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng219/c…
Before driving after surgery, ask your doctor how pain, restricted movement and painkillers could affect your control of the car. Some medicines can impair alertness.
Check that your insurance still covers you when you return to driving.
gov.uk/guidance/miscellaneou…
A bowel screening result saying no further tests are needed does not rule out bowel cancer.
If you develop symptoms you are worried about, speak to your GP even after a recent screening test. Do not wait for the next kit.
nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/…
In GRASP, a trial of 708 adults with a recent rotator cuff disorder, a shoulder steroid injection gave a small benefit in pain and disability at 8 weeks, with no benefit over 12 months.
The expected duration of relief belongs in the discussion.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3426…
If hypermobile joints are painful or repeatedly sprain, ask your GP for an assessment. Physiotherapy can help with strength and balance.
Avoid pushing joints beyond their normal range just because you can; exercise advice should fit your symptoms.
nhs.uk/conditions/joint-hype…
Feeling very tired after a major operation is common. In the early days, do what you feel able to, while following your team’s advice on moving again.
Ask which exercises are suitable for your operation and what limits apply.
nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/…
In England, men are invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening the year they turn 65. It checks for swelling in the main artery in the abdomen.
Over 65 and never screened? Contact your local AAA screening service.
nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/…