NORTHERN BERKSHIRE ORTHOPEDICS


Les Jorgensen's hip pain made it difficult for him to walk from his living room to his kitchen; never mind enjoy the activities he loves. After a hip replacement with Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer, MD, of SVMC Orthopedics, he walks 18-holes of golf three times a week, pain free.

Celia Bahny and her family are very active. Unfortunately, Celia suffered a broken arm (in the same spot twice!) which slowed her down for a spell. Today, she is fully recovered with help from Dr. Matthew Nofziger of SVMC Orthopedics. In this video, Celia and her mother, Holly, discuss her care with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and how we helped get her back to their active lifestyle.

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Avid hiker and guide Keld Alstrup relied on Dr. Matthew Nofziger and the expert team at SVMC Orthopedics to relieve his knee pain and restore his active lifestyle. Now he's back to "peak performance."

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Deborah Slaner Larkin talks about the care she received from Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Dr. Suk Namkoong.

Restoring Active Lifestyles

Don’t let pain or injury keep you on the sidelines of your own life.

If pain or injury is holding you back from living the life you want, SVMC Orthopedics would like to help. The team of board-certified providers is here to provide the individualized treatment and compassionate care you need to get back to leading the life you love.

 

AircastLogo      DH Logo

 

Southwestern Vermont Health Care has been awarded a grant from The Aircast Foundation to allow our orthopedic patients to participate in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock GreenCare model.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) has initiated a new data-gathering program—the GreenCare model—to increase both health care quality and patient satisfaction while decreasing costs.  The GreenCare model uses data collected from patients to predict outcomes for similar patients in the future. The data collected allows patients and surgeons to understand the impact of their orthopedic disease allowing an individualized treatment plan.  SVMC Orthopedics is the first GreenCare participant among Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s affiliated medical institutions.

If you suffer from severe or chronic hip, knee, or ankle pain, total joint replacement may be the best solution. Your orthopedic surgeon will help you understand your options and how joint replacement surgery can help to not just relieve your pain, but get you back to leading a full and active life.

Whether you need a hip replacement or knee replacement, surgeries are performed at SVMC with a rehabilitation program developed in conjunction with our Sports and Therapy department. We offer both in- patient and out-patient therapy options. Some patients are able to return home from a joint replacement surgery on the same day. For patients requiring additional recovery time, the Centers for Living & Rehabilitation (CLR) located on our campus can provide additional extra nursing care and therapy before returning home to fully independent care.

Because getting back to living is the ultimate goal of spinal surgery, the reduced recovery time required by minimally invasive surgery makes it an ideal option for many. 

At SVMC, you’ll be treated by a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon extensively trained in performing minimally invasive spine procedures and creating customized treatment plans. In some cases, you’ll be up and about in a few hours and back to work in a matter of days or weeks, not months.

While the causes of foot pain can range from trauma and arthritis to diabetes-related issues and injuries, the SVMC team has a single focus: literally getting you back on your feet.

Our experienced team offers comprehensive care of foot and ankle disorders through both surgical and non-surgical means for patients of all ages. Using biomechanical analysis, imaging, and other diagnostic procedures, we’ll isolate the cause of your pain and determine the treatment option that delivers the most effective and quickest path to recovery.

Injuries to the rotator cuff are not only painful, they can be life limiting. When possible, the fellowship-trained surgeons at SVMC will attempt to treat your injury through non-surgical means, which may include physical therapy, medication, or injections. If those efforts are unsuccessful, your physician may recommend surgery here at SVMC. Utilizing the latest in arthroscopic technology, your repair can be made with only a slight incision, reducing your recovery time and chance of infection.  For more complicated injuries, a more involved surgery or even joint replacement may be necessary.

Regardless of your procedure, your care will continue post-surgery with a comprehensive rehabilitation plan developed in conjunction with our Physical Therapy department.

In addition to being delicate and complex, your hands and wrists are essential to your daily life. At SVMC, we appreciate that an injury or problem can limit your ability to work, play, and generally enjoy life. From fractures and arthritis to deformities and carpal tunnel syndrome, our providers can care for you. They can create a custom treatment plan using the most advanced surgical techniques, devices, and rehabilitation programs to help you maximize function and minimize pain for the best results possible.

The average person experiences two bone fractures in their lifetime. But as common as they are, every fracture is unique. From complex and stress to oblique and greenstick, at SVMC we diagnose and treat fractures with the specific cause and needs of the patient in mind. On-site imaging technology allows us to quickly assess your need and move quickly to begin the mending process. Depending upon the nature and cause of your injury, we may develop a continuing care plan to reduce or eliminate the chance of future injury.

Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, our board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine specialists can help relieve your pain and get you back in the game or back to your everyday routine.

Our first approach is always conservative, meaning you won’t endure unnecessary treatments or care for your injury. We use the latest techniques and methods to resolve your issue in a manner that’s appropriate for you and your lifestyle.

If your injury does require surgery, it can be performed here, close to home where you can rest and recover in comfort. As part of your care, we’ll develop a personalized recovery plan utilizing the talents and facilities of our on-site Physical Therapy department. Together, we’ll help you recover faster, improve your strength and performance, and reduce the potential for future re-injury.

SVMC Physical Therapy

SVMC Occupational Therapy

Arthritis Today www.arthritistoday.org

National Osteoporosis Foundation nof.org

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons orthoinfo.aaos.org

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine www.amssm.org

RELATED ARTICLES

What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease
Grace Weatherby
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2023

What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease

Springtime in New England is marked by so many great moments in nature. The evening call of peepers from ponds and vernal pools, the return of meadowlarks to the fields, and, unfortunately, the start of tick season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimates that roughly 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. A disproportionate number of them are in the Northeast.

Top 5 States for Lyme Disease*

1. New Jersey     2. Vermont     3. Maine     4. Rhode Island     5. Connecticut

* States in which diagnoses of Lyme disease as a percentage of all diagnoses in the state were higher than in all other states. As numbered, states are in order from highest to lowest. SOURCE: FAIRHealth

Transmitted by the bite of the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete (a spiral-shaped bacteria) that can result in distressing and potentially disabling symptoms, even with treatment. Early Lyme can produce a wide range of symptoms, or no symptoms at all, and is different in each person. Symptoms may change rapidly, sometimes within hours and may include:

  • severe fatigue
  • muscle and joint pain
  • flu-like symptoms
  • neurologic issues
  • sleep disturbances
  • cognitive problems
  • irritability
  • a bullseye rash (the surest sign of Lyme)

Due to the potential range of symptoms, diagnosing Lyme is challenging. People with Lyme may be misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric illnesses, including depression. The delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment allows the infection to progress unchecked.

A formal diagnosis of Lyme is made using a blood test designed to detect specific antibodies that the body produces to fight the infection. Because antibodies can take several weeks to develop, a patient may test negative if infected only recently.

If the antibodies are detected, antibiotics are prescribed. The standard treatment is an antibiotic pill taken over 10 to 14 consecutive days. Treatment may be longer if symptoms persist. 

In cases where a patient presents with long-lasting arthritis, or issues related to the heart or nervous system, IV antibiotics may be recommended.

When treated early, antibiotics cure Lyme disease in more than 99 percent of cases. However, without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. But then even these symptoms are still treatable and curable.

Because the number of cases of Lyme continues to rise—there are 618% more new cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. than Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and West Nile Virus combined—it’s important to perform regular tick checks after spending time outdoors and to pay attention to any unusual or lingering symptoms.

If you’re concerned you may have Lyme, contact your healthcare provider. You may also want to check out this Lyme disease symptom checklist developed by LymeDisease.org. This will help you document your exposure to Lyme disease and common symptoms to share at your appointment.

James Poole, MD, is a Hospitalist and Director of SVMC Inpatient Services.

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375 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267
Phone: (413) 458-4452
Fax: (413) 398-1015

Hours:
Monday – Friday:  8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Directions: 
For directions to SVMC Orthopedics, click here.

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