Here are some answers to frequently asked questions you may find useful.
1. Any side effects for a diabetes patient to undergo the total knee replacement? If so, what are they?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Extra precaution step needed for diabetes patient, such as giving the patient antibiotic before and during the operation to prevent any virus infection. However, Dr Kevin Yip has complete many total knee replacement for many diabetes patient successfully.
2. As compare to the total knee replacement which can last for 20 to 30 years, by having the injection directly to the knee, how long can it last?
Dr. Kevin Yip: How long can it last will be depend on how serious of the knee condition, and also depend how one respond to this particular treatment, because every individual are different.
3. How to reduce the pain caused by stiff neck?
Dr. Kevin Yip: The most common cause for neck stiffness is cervical spondylosis, which means the generative condition affecting the neck which involved the disc (dry and may collapse). However a detail diagnostic will be advisable as each individual might have different aspect. Exercise will be important & beneficial for preventing neck stiffness, maintaining correct posture is always a key concern for neck pain issues.
4. Is there a basic x-ray to check for bone problem? Else, what are the next effective methods to discover the bone problem and are they costly?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Most of the condition can be diagnose clinically by seeing the patient or talking to the patient, x-ray of cause will provide some basic imaging and the stage of the bone, but still not enough to tell the actual problem by depending on x-ray. If more information is needed, MRI is quite a useful methodology in looking at the soft tissues. X-ray is a good investigation step.
5. Does physiotherapy help for slip disk that is causing back pain & side pain?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Physiotherapy will help for reducing the inflammation by the warm and cold temperature, ultrasound therapy. Besides that, various muscles strengthen exercise from the therapy will help to support the spine column for strengthen the muscle group. During the therapy, you will also be asked to do some stretching exercise to increase the flexibility of the spine to maintain the ligament and reduce the prolapsed by some extent.
6. If someone is having a knee problem, can he or she treat climbing stairs as a form of exercise?
Dr. Kevin Yip: For patient who have knee problem, climbing stairs might be difficulty to them. Which part of the knee are having problem has to be clearly identify as well. Patient who has the problem between the knee cap and the tie bone will definitely suffered from climbing stairs, because when climbing stairs, we need to band our knee about 70 to 90 degrees, as compared to walking at the flat surface which need to band 20 to 30 degrees. Doing exercise certainly will help the cartilage to regenerate. At the initial stage, exercise more on the flat surface, and only try out stair at the later stage.
7. What exercise you would recommend for patients who suffer from rehab of chronic knee pain?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Adequate exercise such as walking for a suitable distance is certainly advisable, as patient who suffered from knee problem are not suitable to walk more than certain time period. Cycling or station cycling is always a good exercise for knee problem patient, as the body weight has been taken by the seat, and is suitable for knee exercise.
8. What is the suitable exercise you recommend after knee replacement?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Knee replacement consists of three area, firstly is to reduce the inflammation and that is usually during the first one month after the operation. Thereafter, maintaining the straightness of the muscle around the area, so is still back to suitable exercise to maintain the muscle group for healthy knee. Regardless before or after the total knee replacement, maintain a range of motion is also important, knowing that knee is a simple hinge joint, when it being strengthens fully and at the same time being bended beyond 120 degree.
9. I’m used to be very active on sports, but now I felt that my both knee are pain and my back are aching after during or after exercise. Would you advise me to maintain my sport activities? Or else any alternative activities that can make me stay physically fit and healthy?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Exercise is certainly good for us, but it does not mean this can help us completely prevent from knee problem or back pain problem. As we grow older, we might need to adjust the sport types and level that can suit our body and will depend on individual interest as well.
10. What is the cause of the frozen shoulder?
Dr. Kevin Yip: Frozen shoulder usually happened to people above 40 onwards. It is a condition where the capsule of the shoulder is very much in flame, and the patient initially will complain about the pain on shoulder follow by stiffness. This will cause the patient not able to elevate the shoulder above their head. Stiffness is the main symptom, 75% of the patient who have frozen shoulder would not able to clearly identify the actual cause by the doctor, and 25% of the patient usually with some illness such as heart disease, diabetes, minor or major injury on the shoulder etc.
11. Does Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic (SSOC) offer orthopaedic consultation & treatment?
Yes, we do offer consultation and treatment.
12. Can I book an appointment with you at a certain time?
Please visit this booking page to make an appointment with us today.
13. What is your opening hours?
9am – 5pm (Weekdays) & 9am – 1pm (Saturday)
If you need an answer to your orthopaedic problem, please call us at (+65) 6664 8135 (24 hours)
