One of the most confusing medical terms that patients often inquire about is sciatica. Most people would say that any pain shooting down the back of their leg is sciatica, although this is not always the case. Sciatica is actually a symptom and not a diagnosis, so figuring out what is causing the symptoms of sciatica is usually the first step in the treatment process.

To read the rest of my article that was featured in the State Journal Register, please click here.

Join me on Tuesday, August 17th for a free public seminar on sciatica.  For more details or to register, please call 217-547-9224.

Dr. Watson

I recently was interviewed for a story on behealthyspringfield.com on the effectiveness of the Sketchers Shape-Up Shoes which also featured one of OCI's nurses, Karen Brockmann.  To read the article in its entirety, please click here.

Dr. Mulshine

Did you know OCI offers complete musculoskeletal care?  Here's a little bit more about what we do:

General Orthopedics – treatment of all injuries/diseases in the bones, joints, and tendons, and ligaments

Joint Replacements – partial and total replacements of shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and fingers

Sports Medicine –  injury-prevention, treatment of sports injuries and rehab options to get you back in the game

Spine Care – surgical and non-surgical treatment of neck and back pain, including minimally-invasive techniques

Hand & Upper Extremity – treatment of arthritis of the wrist, hand, finger, shoulder and elbow; carpal tunnel syndrome, and fractures

Foot & Ankle Surgery/Podiatry – treatment of common fractures of feet/ankles, ankle instability, arthritic feet, reconstructive foot/ankle surgery

Pain Medicine – non-operative treatment of lumbar/cervical disc herniations, radiculapothy, and sciatica; occupational injuries, osteoarthritis

I’m writing to tell you about new, minimally invasive options in spine surgery that for some patients can lead to a faster recovery than traditional “open” spine surgery. I offer these options in my practice and welcome the opportunity to share my experiences with you. 

Minimally invasive spine surgery has the same goals as traditional “open” techniques, but adheres to a different philosophy: that muscle and soft tissue can be preserved while reducing patient recovery time. 

In my practice I have adopted a minimally invasive approach for lumbar spinal fusion and lumbar spinal decompression procedures. Patients are hospitalized for as little as a day or two, compared to as long as a week for traditional spinal fusion. As a result, they are often able to return to work and other activities much more quickly. 

Minimally invasive surgery is not appropriate for every patient. Therefore, my practice carefully screens potential candidates in consultation with the primary care provider. Needless to say, I continue to perform traditional open procedures when the situation warrants. 

I am genuinely enthusiastic about this innovative new approach.  I’d welcome the opportunity to personally discuss this approach with you and decide if you're a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery.  If you call my office (217-547-9100), we can set up time to discuss either by phone or in person. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Joseph Williams, M.D.

Click here to read an article I wrote entitled "Minimally Invasive Surgery for Low Back Pain"

The number of injuries seen in young athletes is increasing at an alarming rate. Younger athletes are often presenting with more serious injuries. I see this in my clinics at Memorial's SportsCare, and it's a trend that's being noticed nationwide. There are several reasons for this. But, more important, there are new ways to address the problem.

This near epidemic rise in injuries was troubling enough to members of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine that an initiative was started to combat the problem. The program created is the STOP Sports Injury Campaign. (STOP is an acronym for Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention.)

To read the rest of my article that appeared on the SJR's behealthyspringfield.com website, please click here.