Radiant Blog

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Plantar Fasciitis on Rise During COVID-19 Pandemic

Cases of plantar fasciitis, a common orthopedic ailment, are on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to St. Vincent Charity foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Duane Ehredt Jr. “Plantar fasciitis is typically more common in runners over the age of 40, those who may be carrying extra weight or those with flat feet or high arches,” Dr. Ehredt said. “However, with people quarantining at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are replacing trips to the gym with daily running or walking. Then, they may come home and walk barefoot or wear flip flops the rest of the day. In addition, some have become more sedentary during stay at home orders.” All of this, Dr. Ehredt said, contributes to an increase in cases of plantar fasciitis. ...Continue →

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Effective Treatments for Arthritis Pain of the Thumb

Pain or stiffness at the base of the thumb when gripping, grasping or pinching an object is often a sign of arthritis in the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint – the most common type of arthritis in the hand requiring surgery. Most common in women over 50, CMC arthritis can make simple acts such as opening a door or turning a key in a lock a painful experience. Orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist John Krebs, MD, said when non-surgical treatments fail, CMC arthroplasty (joint replacement) is an effective treatment that maintains proper function of the thumb and hand. ...Continue →

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Losing Weight Begins with Understanding All Your Needs

Research shows that in many cases doctors need to focus less on a patient’s weight and look more individually at things such as personal physiology and behavior. Despite such findings, physicians routinely recommend dieting for weight loss as a means to address issues such as high cholesterol and insomnia in obese patients. Leslie Pristas, DO, medical director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery, explains why this isn't in patients best interest. ...Continue →

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Cleveland Magazine names Dr. Robert McLain a "Champion of Care"

In its January 2020 issue, Cleveland Magazine features Dr. Robert F. McLain of the Spine & Orthopedic Institute at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center as one of its 2020 Champions of Care. Dr. McLain is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon with 25 years of experience in complex back and neck surgeries. He specializes in minimally invasive cervical and lumbar procedures as well as state of the art disc replacement, spinal fusions and reconstruction. ...Continue →

Monday, December 30, 2019

Specialized Lumbar Disk Replacement Relieves Back Pain, Preserves Mobility

While spinal fusion permanently joins two vertebrae together, lumbar disk replacement substitutes a worn or degenerated disk in the lower part of the spine with an artificial disk made of metal or a combination of metal and plastic. The goal of the procedure is to relieve lower back pain while, at the same time, maintain normal motion for patients. St. Vincent Charity’s Robert F. McLain. M.D., who worked with investigators in the first FDA trials on the procedure, is the recognized expert on lumbar disk replacement surgery in Northeast Ohio. ...Continue →

Friday, December 06, 2019

Pain After Knee Replacement Should Not Be Ignored

Total knee replacement is one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine due to its success in relieving chronic pain and restoring mobility and function. That is why more than 600,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed each year. However, a small percentage of knee replacement surgeries fail, and when that happens, patients should seek the advice of a knee revision specialist as soon as possible. According to Bernard Stulberg M.D. of the Spine and Orthopedic Institute at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, continued knee pain can signal failure of an implant device, a condition that requires timely intervention to avoid further complication and bone loss. ...Continue →

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Obesity expert explains why body-shaming is harmful, not helpful

Fat shaming involves criticizing and harassing overweight people about their weight or eating habits. Studies show that weight discrimination — including body-shaming — causes stress and leads overweight people to eat more calories. As medical director of the Center for Bariatric Surgery at St. Vincent Charity, Leslie Pristas, DO, counsels patients on all the factors that cause obesity and educates them on successful long-term tools needed to maintain a healthy weight. Here, she addresses the harmful effects shame has on health and the misconceptions about the causes of obesity. ...Continue →

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Reverse Shoulder Surgery Provides Effective Treatment for Complex Shoulder Joint Conditions

Reverse shoulder replacement surgery provides an effective treatment for the millions of Americans suffering from chronic pain but for whom traditional replacement is not an option. ...Continue →

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Dr. Bernard Stulberg from the Spine & Orthopedic Institute Named Crain's Health Care Hero finalist

Crain's Cleveland Business named, Bernard Stulberg, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with the Spine & Orthopedic Institute at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, as a Crain's Health Care Hero finalist. The program recognizes some of the most exceptional health care providers in the region. ...Continue →

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Something in my back is exploded!

Robert F. McLain, M.D., a spine surgeon in the Spine and Orthopedic Institute at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, recently published the following article to provide information regarding cervical disc injury, cervical fusion, disc replacement surgery and more. Dr. McLain has more than 20 years of experience in disc replacement surgery, and has served as an instructor and educator in disc replacement surgical training, as Principal Investigator for an FDA cervical disc replacement clinical trial, and provides both lumbar and cervical disc replacement to carefully selected patients who need those procedures. ...Continue →