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At the Weeks Orthopedic Care Center we are committed to alleviating pain and returning our patients to their normal activities. We offer a full spectrum of medical care devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries or disease that affect the body’s joints, bones, nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Whether your goal is to get back to work, return to competitive sports, or to simply walk without pain, our goal is to give you the opportunity to enjoy the most out of life.

Our board-certified orthopedic physician, Paul Kamins, MD is highly experienced in performing state-of-the-art procedures and surgery.  Dr. Kamins is supported by an excellent orthopedic team, including Anna Linglebach-Lorenz, a Certified Physician Assistant, skilled nurses, and rehabilitation therapists. Whether a patient needs enhanced rehabilitation, a simple injection, custom bracing or a surgical procedure, the skilled and compassionate orthopedic staff works as a team to provide a full spectrum of services for children through seniors. We offer:

• General orthopedic care
• Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand treatment
• Hip, knee, ankle and foot treatment
• Total joint replacement
• Arthroscopic surgery
• Sports medicine

No matter how common or obscure the problem, the orthopedic staff has the capability to offer the best treatment, the latest medical knowledge and technology to provide you the very best care available. Our personalized care takes into account each patient’s lifestyle.

Coordinated, Personalized Orthopedic Surgery Care

For patients requiring surgery, our care is highly personalized from pre-surgery through post-surgical rehabilitation. Our unique post surgery unit allows a patient to remain at Weeks for both skilled nursing care and professional in-house rehabilitation. We offer a supportive and comfortable environment, so you don’t have to leave the hospital for rehabilitation. Our team of medical professionals and therapists remain involved throughout the healing process to ensure the fastest, healthiest and most complete recovery possible. Because our Orthopedic Care Center is located adjacent to our rehabilitation facility, you receive your post-operative nursing and rehabilitation care from the same team of professionals who know you and your procedure. Dr. Kamins and his staff are right there to regularly monitor your progress.

Relief from Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

If you’ve tried diet, exercise and over-the-counter pain medication and still have knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, the orthopedic team may recommend an injection with steroid and/or viscosupplementation. These are simple, in-office procedures that only take a few minutes with minimal discomfort. In knees with osteoarthritis, the joint fluid can break down and not provide the necessary cushioning. The viscosupplement injection supplements your knee fluid to relieve the pain and improve the knee joint’s natural shock absorbing abilities and reduce inflammation.

Orthopedic Sports Medicine

For recreational athletes of all ages, the Orthopedic Care Center has extensive experience in sports medicine. We provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of conditions related to sports injuries or overuse, such as:

• Meniscal tears
• Ligament / tendon tears
• Sprains and strains
• Tendon tears
• Stress fractures

One of the procedures commonly performed by Dr. Kamins is arthroscopy of the knee, ankle or shoulder for a variety of conditions. Arthroscopy involves the use of fiber optic cameras and very small surgical tools, which work through much smaller incisions than traditional surgery. For most people, arthroscopy means a speedier recovery, less scarring, and fewer complications than open surgery.

Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Most shoulder pain involves the soft tissues, muscles, ligaments and tendons. The following is a list of the most common orthopedic-related shoulder problems:

• Sprain/Strain
• Frozen Shoulder
• Fractures
• Dislocation
• Rotator Cuff Tear/Repair
• Tendinitis and Bursitis
• Degenerative Joint Disease

Once the orthopedic specialists at Weeks determine the source of the shoulder problem, which may involve imaging technology such as an X-ray, MRI or CT Scan, they will recommend a course of treatment. Often, they will recommend altering activities, rest and physical therapy to help improve shoulder strength and flexibility. Medications and/or injections may be recommended to reduce inflammation and pain. When a more conservative treatment doesn’t alleviate the pain, surgery may be recommended for problems like rotator cuff tears or rotator cuff impingement. Often minimally invasive techniques, such as arthroscopic surgery, can be employed. Because arthroscopic surgery requires only limited surgical access, the incision is much smaller than is necessary for open surgery.

Advanced Hip and Knee Replacements Offer Fast Recovery and Better Function

For patients who are in constant hip or knee pain and have a significant decrease in mobility which affects quality of life, Dr. Kamins routinely performs hip and knee joint replacements.  He has been performing successful replacement surgeries for over fourteen years. Total hip and knee replacements are usually a result of progressive, severe arthritis in the joint.

The most common type is degenerative arthritis or osteoarthritis.  Using joint replacement procedures and the latest pain management methods, a damaged knee or hip can be removed and replaced with an artificial implant. Prior to undergoing joint replacement surgery, patients will have specific x-rays of the damaged joint. Dr. Kamins will use these x-rays, along with a computer-aided design system, to determine the best fit for the patient’s body.

Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. During surgery, Dr. Kamins will replace the knee with an artificial joint made of metal alloys and high-grade polymers. He will
choose the best fit that takes into account the patient’s size. Most knee replacement joints replicate the knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends.

Hip Replacement Surgery

The purpose of hip replacement surgery is to remove the two damaged and worn parts of the hip joint – hip socket (acetabulum) and the ball (femoral head) and replace them with smooth, artificial implants called prostheses, which help make the hip strong, stable and flexible again. The hip implant is comprised of four parts that work together to restore the original function of the ball-and-socket joint:

• A metal hip stem that is inserted into the top of your thigh bone
• A metal cup which holds the cup liner
• A cup liner which holds the femoral head
• The femoral head or ball which is attached to the hip stem and inserted into the liner to form the ball-and-socket joint

Hip implants are not one-size-fits-all. Dr. Kamins will choose the right hip implant for your body in order to restore accurate leg length, while minimizing risks of dislocation and premature implant wear.

What Is the Rehabilitation Process

After Joint Replacement? After joint replacement surgery, patients move from skilled nursing care to a specially equipped rehabilitation department where physical therapy is started. Depending on the patient’s age and overall health, rehabilitation can range from a few days to a couple of weeks to be sure the patient is comfortable and confident when they are discharged from the hospital. Occupational therapists are also part of the rehabilitation process. These therapists review precautions with the patients related to everyday activities. They also educate patients about the adaptive equipment that is available and the proper way to do activities of daily living.

In the majority of cases, extended rehabilitation can be done in the very same hospital room ensuring continuity of care. Once a patient has completed the rehabilitation process, they must demonstrate that they can do activities of daily living before they are discharged home. The patient will continue therapy either at home with a home therapist, or as an outpatient with the same therapist they had while in the hospital.
If hip, knee, shoulder, back, ankle, or hand and wrist pain is causing you to give up the things you enjoy doing and is compromising your quality of life, you should consider visiting the professionals at the Weeks Orthopedic Care Center. They will recommend the most appropriate treatment for your condition. They may advise a combination of methods tailored to your health and lifestyle, such as exercise, physical therapy, and medication. The orthopedic team at Weeks has the capability of offering expert orthopedic care close to home.