Dr. Kimberly Tucker
Keeping a Spring in Your Step – Part II
Linda Shannon-Hills
Back by popular demand, Dr. Kimberly Tucker continued her talk this month on Keeping a Spring in Your Step with the discussion focused on hips. We learn a lot about hip pain and where that pain may be focused and how to relieve your pain to enjoy our lives living at the Ranch. She covered the anatomy of the hip and some of the common causes of pain like arthritis, bursitis, muscle strain and nerve irritation.
A common problem for anyone at any age is hip bursitis, which causes pain in the hip and groin area. There are five large sacs, and the fluid in those sacs can become irritated from injury, excessive pressure and overuse. A simple x-ray can uncover the problem giving Dr. Tucker several ways to reduce the pain without surgery, which may include physical therapy or anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications.
Arthritis in the hip joint is caused from a loss of the protective cartilage. Unlike knee cartilage loss, which can be relieved with corticosteroid injections, the hip is trickier to inject. Hip replacement may be an option when nonsurgical interventions such as medications, physical therapy or use of a cane can no longer alleviate the pain. Not as common as knee replacements, it has become a routine surgery for orthopedic doctors. Dr. Kim talked about the latest innovative joint replace procedures and materials that have increased the longevity of the hip replacements.
As usual, Dr. Tucker’s talk was highly informative, felicitous for our neighborhood and yet a delightful presentation on a challenging topic. A few in attendance commented after the talk about how much they learned and were very interested in visiting Dr. Tucker to discuss their bursitis issues.
Wellness Roundup Calendar for 2016
January 12, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. – Emergencies and safety in your home. Golder Ranch EMTs and Firemen
February 9, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. – Fitness Roundup at the Ranch
March 8, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. – Allergies in the Desert plus Valley Fever. Dr. Jonathan Lara and Dr. Thomas Kang, Team from Sonoran ENT
April 12, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. – Alternative Health and Healing and Relaxation Methods
May 10, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m. – Importance of Sleep. Sandra Roos and Marty Ukokis, sleep specialists from Oro Valley Sleep Lab.