General Practitioners

• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
  Carpal tunnel release is performed to relieve the pressure on the median nerve which is causing symptoms that can include burning pain and numbness in the hand. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. It is typically performed endoscopically, but an incision may be required in cases of previous carpal tunnel release on the same wrist or in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis. During the surgery, the ligament that compresses the median nerve is cut to release the nerve. The patient is typically allowed to return to work within 2 days unless their job requires manual labor or lifting. Heavy lifting my not be allowed for up to one month after surgery. Post-operative rehabilitation is typically only required if the surgeon feels scar management is necessary after an open (not endoscopic) procedure.
• Cryotherapy
• Medical Weight Loss
  While a cast plays an essential role in the healing of broken bones, the importance of a well-balanced diet rich in those nutrients known to aid the repair of fractures should not be forgotten. This may not be an issue for many of the people who you provide casting for, but in seniors nutritional deficiencies are more frequent that you may realize. Particularly in frail older adults who report a history of weight loss or poor appetite they may be deficient in a number of key nutrients vital for bone healing. Although this may warrant referral to a dietitian to carry out a detailed nutritional assessment to formulate a treatment plan to boost their dietary intake, it is helpful that you have an awareness of those nutrients critical to bone restoration. While you are probably already well aware of the importance of obtaining enough calcium, what other dietary components are essential? Protein Diets that include excessive protein are associated with losses of bone mineral density, but a deficiency of protein, which is more likely among the elderly, can impair fracture healing. Protein is beneficial to bone repair in a number of ways. Protein accounts for around half of bone structure by volume and when a bone is broken, the body is required to create new structural proteins within the bone, which requires an adequate supply of dietary amino acids. Adequate protein in the diet also promotes the production of growth factors which have a positive impact on bone renewal and aids the absorption of dietary calcium. Although meat and fish are rich in protein, vegetarians can source sufficient protein from dairy produce, pulses, nuts and seeds. It may in fact be beneficial to obtain more of our protein from these sources, as dairy and plant-based proteins appear to be less damaging to the bones when taken in higher amounts. Vitamin D This vitamin regulates calcium uptake in the intestines to ensure that there is adequate calcium in the blood to allow appropriate mineralization in the bones, which is particularly important following a fracture. While the action of sunlight on our skin generates vitamin D and regular time spent outdoors is the easiest way to produce sufficient to meet our needs, for anyone housebound or whose mobility is limited, they may easily miss out on this opportunity; this process also becomes less efficient as we age. Few foods in the diet are rich in this vitamin – egg yolks, oily fish such as mackerel, sardines and salmon and fortified foods such as breakfast cereals, milk and margarine are the only real sources. Certainly anyone with osteoporosis is recommended to take a supplement of vitamin D, as are post-menopausal women living in nursing homes or who spend little time outdoors. Vitamin C Collagen is one of the major proteins in bone important for healing and vitamin C helps to aid collagen formation. This vitamin is sourced from fruit, vegetables and potatoes, with citrus fruits, berries, kiwis, tomatoes, peppers and gre
• Primary Care
  Cancer pain patients are treated in conjunction with their primary care physician, oncologist, and/or palliative medicine physician.
• Emergency Care
  Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. Accredited programs include formal instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition. Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers belong to nata.org and hold at least a master’s degree.
• Immunizations
  OCSI will NOT be writing any prescriptions, updating immunizations or treating any specific medical problems. This will strictly be a screening physical for participation in sports. It is state law that any student who wishes to participate in any school sponsored athletic team or squad, must first have a current physical (within 365 days of the first day of the activity).

Gynecologists

• Pregnancy
  Trauma and degeneration are two leading causes of SI joint dysfunction. Sacroiliac joint trauma can occur during motor vehicle accidents, falls on the buttocks, lifting and/or twisting, pregnancy and childbirth. Sacroiliac joint degeneration can occur as a result of previous lumbar spine surgery, stresses to the SI joint due to leg length differences, osteoarthritis, and prior infection of the SI joint.
• Labor and Delivery

Neurologists

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition associated with symptoms that include burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers. These symptoms can affect sleep. A test called a Nerve Conduction Study is required in order to confirm diagnosis. X-rays may also be used to rule out other conditions which could be causing similar symptoms.

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Osteoarthritis is diagnosed by physical evaluation and x-rays. An MRI is not commonly required for this diagnosis. There are things you can do to slow the progression of joint deterioration including staying active and maintaining a healthy weight. Other conservative measures include use of viscosupplementation injections which may use steroid medication to decrease inflammation and relieve pain or may use hyaluronic acid to provide joint lubrication. These lubricating injections include Synvisc, Euflexxa, and Zilretta, to name a few. The doctor may also recommend use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. A physical therapist can provide pain-relieving treatments such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation and will teach you exercises to stretch tight muscles, improve joint stiffness, and strengthen the muscles that support the knee.
• MRI
  The rotator cuff is a set of 4 muscles at each shoulder. These muscles work together to keep the “ball in socket” as you move your arm out or overhead. If the tendon of one of these muscles is injured, it will be painful for you lift anything, reach overhead, or reach behind your back. The rotator cuff tendons can be injured traumatically in a fall or other accident or be worn down over time by repetitive activity or use of poor posture. Although the injured tendon is in the shoulder, pain from the rotator cuff is most commonly felt in a band around the upper half of the upper arm. A rotator cuff injury can often be diagnosed based on clinical presentation, but if conservative treatments do not resolve the issue, an MRI may be ordered to determine which of the tendons are involved and whether they are torn or just inflamed.
• Radiology
  The MRI Department was awarded a three-year term of accreditation for its closed MRI as the result of a facility survey conducted by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Accreditation is voluntary, and those healthcare organizations who seek this distinction receive evaluations for image quality and procedure by board-certified radiologists and physicists who are experts in the field. The accreditation program also evaluates the qualifications of staff, adequacy of equipment, and quality control and assurance measures that the facility has implemented. ACR accreditation is no easy accomplishment, and for the MRI staff to take this challenge on and acquire this accreditation – is remarkable.
• X-Rays
• Iontophoresis

Surgeons

• Sciatica
  This pain originates from the spine and radiates to the arms and legs. Radicular pain is caused by bulging or herniated discs that put pressure on the nerve roots causing inflammation and pain. Radicular pain can include “sciatica.”
• Arthroscopy
  Surgical intervention can include arthroscopy or joint replacement. During an arthroscopy, the surgeon will “clean up” the inside of the joint and remove any bone spurs or loose pieces of cartilage. Rehab following this type of surgery typically lasts 4-6 weeks and helps you regain range of motion and strength. In advanced cases, surgical intervention typically involves joint replacement. After joint replacement, 4-8 weeks of rehab will help you regain fairly full range of motion and good strength at and below shoulder level. There is typically some weakness with overhead lifting, but pain is significantly improved.
• Wound Care
  Shoulder surgeries, edema Mobilization, flexor and extensor tendon repairs, wound care, scar management, CMC arthritis, Dupuytren's, MP arthroplasty.
• Ankle Surgery
• Joint Replacement
  Once the osteoarthritis progresses to the point that conservative treatments no longer provide relief of symptoms, surgical intervention may be an option. In joint replacement surgery, the surgeon will remove the damaged joint surfaces and replace them with plastic and metal parts. This type of surgery typically requires an overnight hospital stay. If you are diabetic, it is important to maintain healthy sugar levels after surgery to decrease likelihood of developing adhesive capusulitis (frozen knee). Smoking also increases your risk of developing this issue. Adhesive capsulitis sometimes requires an arthroscopic surgery to release scar tissue that is keeping the knee from bending and straightening properly.
• Hand Surgery
  Hand surgery is the field of medicine that deals with problems of the hand, wrist, and forearm. Hand surgeons care for these problems with and without surgery. They are specially trained to operate when necessary. Many hand surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and caring for shoulder and elbow problems.
• Arthroscopy
• Hip Replacement
  Occasionally, after total hip replacement the ball can be dislodged from the socket. In most cases, the hip can be relocated without surgery. A brace may be worn for a period of time if a dislocation occurs. Most commonly, dislocations are more frequent after complex revision surgery.
• Knee Replacement
  Rehab following knee replacement is extremely important for regaining full range of motion at the knee and to help you achieve good mobility. If you rest and try to avoid pain in the days and weeks after surgery, you will likely end up with a very stiff knee and have difficulty performing mobility tasks such as stair climbing and getting out of a chair. In the first days after surgery, it will be painful to move the knee. If you push through the pain to perform your range of motion and stretching exercises, these exercises will actually provide relief of pain and of stiffness with activity. In addition, the doctor may order a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine that will be used for a total of 6 hours per day in 2 hour increments. This machine will passively bend and straighten your knee.
• Knee Arthroscopy

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  Devin Haertling, PA-C has clinic at the Pinckneyville location every other Monday, in addition to treating patients at the Mt. Vernon Campus - Monday through Friday. Devin is a Physician Assistant with special interest in Sports Medicine. As a Physician Assistant and former Certified Athletic Trainer at the Orthopaedic Center, he is able to provide Orthopaedic assessments, follow-up care, treatments and education for patients.
• Physical Therapy
  Orthopaedic Center of Southern Illinois - Centralia campus is located at 839 Martin Luther King Drive. This office allows our patients the convenience of being treated by board certified Orthopaedic specialists without driving to another community for Orthopaedic care.OCSI Centralia Campus provides services that include general and specialized orthopaedic care, physical therapy, and digital imaging.
• Occupational Therapy
  Shoulder osteoarthritis can be either primary or secondary. Primary OA is related to age and genes. Secondary OA occurs as the result of previous injuries or dislocations. The pain from arthritis is aggravated by activity and gets progressively worse over time. As the disease progresses, the pain will occur even at rest and will begin to affect your sleep. It is also common to experience joint stiffness and grinding or clicking. Osteoarthritis is typically diagnosed by physical examination and x-ray. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injection. Physical or occupational therapy can help improve range of motion and strength and can provide relief from acute flares of pain during earlier stages of the disease. Heat can also provide temporary relief of pain and stiffness.
• Frozen Shoulder
  Rotator cuff repair is typically performed arthroscopically on an outpatient basis. During surgery, the surgeon will use sutures to re-attach the injured tendon to the bone. A sling is typically be used for the first 6 weeks after surgery. During that time, a physical or occupational therapist will provide passive range of motion exercises to decrease likelihood of developing frozen shoulder while using the sling. After 6 weeks, therapy will progress to include active range of motion exercises, with light strengthening beginning at the 6-10 week mark. Depending on the type of activity or work you will be returning to, rehab typically lasts for 12-16 weeks.
• Ankle Sprain
  Sprains graded II and III are more significant, with symptoms lasting from weeks to months. Usually if one ligament is torn, some others are stretched. You can also strain a muscle during the twisting injury. The most commonly strained muscles in an ankle sprain are the peroneal muscles. This group of 3 muscles help turn your heel outward and can sustain injury when your ankle turns inward forcefully, such as during an ankle sprain. If one of your ankle muscles gets pulled hard enough during an ankle injury, a small piece of bone can be pulled away from the rest of the bone where the muscle’s tendon attaches. This is referred to as an avulsion fracture.
• Back Pain
• Manual Therapy
  Many types of pain and functional deficits can be addressed and improved by the implementation of a customized physical or occupational therapy plan of care. Our therapists will perform a thorough evaluation and determine which treatments will work best for you. Treatments may include hands-on manual therapy, use of pain relieving modalities, and use of an exercise program specialized to fit your needs.

Podiatrists

• Ankle Sprain