Many adults, particularly seniors, live with chronic joint pain. Some have been diagnosed with a degenerative hip or knee condition.
Kristy Ventura, nurse practitioner and orthopaedic physician assistant with Auburn Orthopaedic Specialists, wants them to know they have options.
From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, she will present the first of a series of free seminars on hip and knee pain in the Auburn Memorial Hospital auditorium.
“The goal is not to diagnose or discuss individual problems, but to let people know about common ailments of the hip and knee and treatments that are available,” Ventura said.
Some local residents may recall that seminars on hip and knee pain were offered on a regular basis in past years.
“About 10 years ago, Dr. Raymond Traver and Dr. Thomas Sullivan wanted to start this program to educate the community and help people with hip and knee pain,” Ventura recounted. “I toured other facilities and developed an educational seminar which was held twice monthly and the feedback we received was very positive.”
Although the seminars have not taken place in recent years, with the recent growth of Auburn Orthopaedic Specialists, the time was right to revive the series. Ventura said the seminars will initially be offered monthly, and eventually seminars may also be offered on shoulder pain and common hand disorders.
A frequent source of hip and knee pain is osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 20 million people in the United States. Before the age of 45, men are more commonly affected than women; after age 55, the situation reverses and more women are affected. Causes of OA include getting older, being overweight, joint injury, joints that are not properly formed, genetic defects in joint cartilage or stress in the joints from certain jobs or from playing sports.
“Because we have a high demographic of elderly people in this area, and because people in general are living longer, osteoarthritis is increasingly common,” Ventura said.
The seminar will begin with a brief lesson on anatomy which gives attendees an idea of why joint pain occurs, she said.
“Everyone will get osteoarthritis to some degree, but not everybody will have pain. I discuss ways to avoid or minimize pain, such as keeping weight off, exercise to strengthen muscles, calcium supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin. I will also bring in a joint replacement to show the attendees and will discuss surgical options. The session is meant to give people hope that they don't have to live with chronic pain. They can remain active and lead healthy lifestyles.”
At Auburn Orthopaedic Specialists, Ventura is responsible for diagnosing and treating a variety of orthopaedic conditions. She was certified as an orthopaedic physician assistant in 1997. As the first nurse practitioner in the field of orthopaedics in the central New York area, she developed protocols and a job description and has spoken at regional nurse practitioner meetings on shoulder and knee exams.
She also developed a hip and knee replacement informational and teaching booklet and developed and taught a preoperative training class for the total joint replacement program.
From 1989 to 1995, she worked as a registered nurse in the Auburn Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.
Beverly Miller is the director of community relations and the Hospital Foundation at Auburn Memorial Hospital.
If you go
What: Hip and Knee Pain Seminar
When: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009
Where: Auburn Memorial
Hospital auditorium, located on the lower level of the hospital, Franklin Street, Auburn
Cost: Free
To learn more: Contact Beverly Miller at 255-7239
From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, she will present the first of a series of free seminars on hip and knee pain in the Auburn Memorial Hospital auditorium.
“The goal is not to diagnose or discuss individual problems, but to let people know about common ailments of the hip and knee and treatments that are available,” Ventura said.
Some local residents may recall that seminars on hip and knee pain were offered on a regular basis in past years.
“About 10 years ago, Dr. Raymond Traver and Dr. Thomas Sullivan wanted to start this program to educate the community and help people with hip and knee pain,” Ventura recounted. “I toured other facilities and developed an educational seminar which was held twice monthly and the feedback we received was very positive.”
Although the seminars have not taken place in recent years, with the recent growth of Auburn Orthopaedic Specialists, the time was right to revive the series. Ventura said the seminars will initially be offered monthly, and eventually seminars may also be offered on shoulder pain and common hand disorders.
A frequent source of hip and knee pain is osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 20 million people in the United States. Before the age of 45, men are more commonly affected than women; after age 55, the situation reverses and more women are affected. Causes of OA include getting older, being overweight, joint injury, joints that are not properly formed, genetic defects in joint cartilage or stress in the joints from certain jobs or from playing sports.
“Because we have a high demographic of elderly people in this area, and because people in general are living longer, osteoarthritis is increasingly common,” Ventura said.
The seminar will begin with a brief lesson on anatomy which gives attendees an idea of why joint pain occurs, she said.
“Everyone will get osteoarthritis to some degree, but not everybody will have pain. I discuss ways to avoid or minimize pain, such as keeping weight off, exercise to strengthen muscles, calcium supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin. I will also bring in a joint replacement to show the attendees and will discuss surgical options. The session is meant to give people hope that they don't have to live with chronic pain. They can remain active and lead healthy lifestyles.”
At Auburn Orthopaedic Specialists, Ventura is responsible for diagnosing and treating a variety of orthopaedic conditions. She was certified as an orthopaedic physician assistant in 1997. As the first nurse practitioner in the field of orthopaedics in the central New York area, she developed protocols and a job description and has spoken at regional nurse practitioner meetings on shoulder and knee exams.
She also developed a hip and knee replacement informational and teaching booklet and developed and taught a preoperative training class for the total joint replacement program.
From 1989 to 1995, she worked as a registered nurse in the Auburn Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.
Beverly Miller is the director of community relations and the Hospital Foundation at Auburn Memorial Hospital.
If you go
What: Hip and Knee Pain Seminar
When: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009
Where: Auburn Memorial
Hospital auditorium, located on the lower level of the hospital, Franklin Street, Auburn
Cost: Free
To learn more: Contact Beverly Miller at 255-7239
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