When managing arthritic pain isn’t enough, surgery may be an option

Oconto Falls, Wis. – Nearly a quarter of all adults in the United States experience aches and pains associated with arthritis, often with debilitating effects. The joint disease can cause stiffness, swelling and pain in areas of the body like the knees, wrists, ankles and knuckles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated one in 10 adults suffering from arthritis limit their activities because of the condition.

Many people living with arthritis will experience symptoms in different ways, varying from day to day. Dr. Mark Schick, orthopedic surgeon in Oconto Falls, says those impacted by the disease can change their diets to lose weight, become more physically active and better protect their joints in an effort to reduce the pain they’re experiencing.

“I often tell patients through moderate exercises like walking or swimming, they can help decrease some of their arthritic pain,” says Dr. Schick. “Many can also reduce their arthritic discomfort by avoiding overly strenuous activities more likely to cause joint injuries. Others can better manage their weight, to help reduce the extra stress put on joints.”

Walking is one of the most beneficial ways to improve pain, fatigue, stiffness and swelling of the joints associated with arthritis. According to the CDC, walking can ultimately improve an arthritic person’s function by nearly 40%. For individuals considering surgical options for treatment of arthritis, Dr. Schick recommends talking to an orthopedist to find out more about advanced arthritis treatments now available in Oconto Falls.

“If you begin to have difficulty or pain performing everyday tasks, and non-surgical options are not helping, you should talk with an orthopedist about new surgeries, which could help,” says Dr. Schick. “Our orthopedic team offers minimally invasive procedures for total joint and partial knee and hip replacements. If you’re a good candidate, we have multiple procedures now available to help with your joint pain.”

Appointments with Dr. Schick can be scheduled online or by calling (920) 272-3300. He sees patients for comprehensive orthopedic care at the Prevea Oconto Falls Medical Services Building and performs surgery at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls. He also sees patients at Prevea and HSHS hospitals Green Bay.

For more information about surgical care and excellence at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, please visit: https://www.hshs.org/StClare/Services/Surgery

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About HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital serves Oconto Falls and the surrounding communities as a federally-designated critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department, urgent care, general, vascular and orthopedic surgical services, inpatient and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services, rehabilitation, oncology outpatient clinic and women’s care. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, in affiliation with Prevea Health, has five regional health center locations in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Oconto Falls and Suring. Founded in 1921 as Community Memorial Hospital, in 2014, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital became the fourteenth hospital in Hospital Sisters Health System. As an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. For more information about St. Clare, visit www.stclarememorial.org.

About Hospital Sisters Health System
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center is part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs nearly 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.

About Prevea Health
Prevea Health is a community of passionate and accomplished physicians, caregivers and staff working together to provide exceptional health care. Patients have trusted Prevea with their medical care needs since 1996 when the organization was founded in Green Bay, Wis. Today, Prevea provides primary care and a wide range of specialty medical care in clinic, hospital, and workplace settings across Northeast Wisconsin. It is partnered with Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) which operates hospitals in Wisconsin. For more information about Prevea Health, visit www.prevea.com.