Cryotherapy, Stretching, Carpal Tunnel, Spinal Surgery

The Docs talk about Cryotherapy and the importance of stretching. They talk with a caller about hand numbness and possible carpal tunnel. They talk with another caller about spine surgery.
The Docs talk about Cryotherapy and the importance of stretching. They talk with a caller about hand numbness and possible carpal tunnel. They talk with another caller about spine surgery.
Today’s themes include: the holidays, of course, and DR. SOURYAL IS NOT RETIRED; he is busier than ever! Confident and competent Doctors Bellard and Souryal get right on the phone calls, starting with a man who cannot lift his arm above shoulder height, a 65 year old Silver Sneakers card recipient who wonders what his a positional click and pain while swimming could indicate, and a father asking about the downsides of delaying an MRI for his 16 year old daughter after her martial arts injury.
A runner has foot pain after a steroid shot and discovers the shot may not have treated the real problem, which leads to a long discussion about pro players with similar injuries. Another caller has two torn rotator cuffs and asks if they can still be repaired five years later, then there are questions about the efficacy of surgeries for hip labral tears. Amy Goddard, physical therapist at GO Sports Therapy is on late in the show to discuss the modalities she uses to give her clients high-quality care. The benefits of cryotherapy and hyperbaric therapy on healing after an injury or post-op are explained, there is a text from far off cocoa drinkers, and the usual scuttlebutt is exchanged. Fa la la la la to you!
Big news for Dr. Souryal- he just stepped down as team physician for the Dallas Mavericks after a 22 year ride! However, he continues his day job as an orthopedic surgeon and weekend gig as radio host extraordinaire, so keep tuning in! Dr. Brad Bellard joins Dr. Souryal to discuss the “ins and outs” of being sports medicine doctors- from treating routine ailments to solving medical puzzles and one-offs, and so much more.
Questions roll in by phone and text. A 49 year old body builder has a bad rotator cuff tear and wonders how long it will take to recover. A listener asks what are the “favorite” injuries to diagnose and treat. A mother questions her toddler’s tibia injury and limp. A power lifter has questions about sports hernias, groin pain, and cryotherapy. A 65 year old still has pain years after knee surgery and questions his current step exercises and next step medically. A 61 year old would like to know all the treatment options for a shredded peroneal tendon. A 57 year old asks about alternatives to surgery for his multiple shoulder problems. The show ends with both doctors weighing in on a family dispute about rheumatoid arthritis and chiropractor treatments.
Congratulations on an amazing career, Dr. Souryal. More to come!
Dr. T.O. Souryal is joined by talented spine surgeon Dr. Scott Blumenthal and the ideal sports medicine specialist, Dr. Brad Bellard. All bring their wisdom and cool factor to today’s episode! The Docs start off responding to a call about a possible bruised tailbone and anatomic variations. This leads into a discussion of the hope or hype of new procedures or fads such as kinesio tape, trendy stem cell treatment, and cryotherapy.
The Sports Medicine 101 topic at the top of the hour is the classic medical terms or symptoms, like chest pains and headaches, that immediately get the attention of medical professionals and may signal a serious condition.
Calls continue to come in about an evolving diagnosis after a slip on spilled water, an active 33 year old with a popped knee/subluxation and a caller with spinal stenosis, another wants to know if a spinal fusion can be reversed. The last caller is a runner with a sacroiliac problem who has to sort out medical advice that doesn’t match up and treatment that has gone on way too long.
Dr. Souryal is getting ready for summer – spinning some Beach Boys tunes and hanging with his friends Mel and Brad. Lucky for us, his friends happen to be exceptional sports medicine specialists Dr. Mel Manning and Dr. Brad Bellard. Chiropractic care, cryotherapy, endorphin highs and “squirrelly” runners, as well as the important difference between “swag” and “shwag” are discussed.
The show starts with a miracle story of a longterm deficiency that was easily managed, once a certain doctor asked the right questions and kept digging to find a new and better solution to her patient’s problem. At the halfway mark, Sports Medicine 101 covers a rare, and advanced, topic: Rhabdomyolysis, which is an excessive breakdown of muscle tissue that can lead to hospitalization and even dialysis.
As always, information and entertainment are at the heart of the show, and the three doctors shed some light on various medical puzzles from listeners. A father is curious whether his daughter’s noisy, yet pain-free knees can indicate a problem, something doesn’t add up for a caller with a degenerative spinal condition, and a runner needs to consult a cardiologist for his heart irregularity. One caller describes knife-like pain after spinal surgery, another has had multiple SLAP tears and wonders what’s up now and where did that old anchor go? A 30 year old runner has had pain and a pop in his left knee for the last month, another aging and tall 30 year old asks for advice on how to restart his exercise routine in a wise way. A former patient of Dr. Souryal ends the show on a high note when he calls to thank the Doc for the excellent care he has given. The doctors agree: this is why we do what we do.