Arthritis can strike hard and create a great deal of pain often limiting your movement and activities in daily living. However, for many, it doesn't have to be that way permanently. Dr. Joshua Lawson is an orthopedic surgeon working to help as many patients as he can have a better and fuller life.
"I have sub-specialty training in the treatment of hip, knee, and shoulder arthritis through both non-surgical and surgical options," Dr. Lawson shared.
Dr. LawsonDr. Lawson is a Chattanooga native that finished his fellowship in joint replacement surgery and began practice in September of 2019.
"I am very excited to be back home and serving my community," he shared. "I am credentialed with all the major insurance providers as well as the majority of hospital facilities in the Chattanooga area."
While surgical treatment most commonly involves a partial or total joint replacement, Dr. Lawson shared that he also treats patients that have previously had a joint replacement procedure but unfortunately have developed problems or are unsatisfied with their outcome.
"For patients that have not previously been evaluated, I would recommend they see a physician when they develop consistent joint pain that interferes with work responsibilities, their ability to perform their day to day tasks at home, and inability to participate in their favorite hobbies," he advised.
Difficulty sleeping, joint instability, and swelling are also indications to seek an evaluation, Dr. Lawson encouraged. And if you're already on the other side of a procedure, Dr. Lawson works with you to help aid in the healing process and watch for any signs of potential problems.
For patients that have already had a joint replacement, red flags to watch for that indicated problems include warmth to touch, redness, swelling, worsening pain, loss of motion, or inability to bear weight, fevers, and wound drainage are all concerning, especially with regard to infection, Dr. Lawson added.
"Other concerns after a joint replacement include chronic joint swelling, feelings of instability, pain with weight bearing, or loss of joint motion are also signs that a patient may be developing a complication with their joint replacement," he said.
When it comes to patients looking to choose an orthopedic doctor and practice that's right for them, Dr. Lawson strives to be both personal and attentive.
"From a practice standpoint, I strive to provide a very personal experience and an individualized treatment plan to each of my patients," he said. "I see all of my patients myself, whether that is in the hospital or my office, and I take into account each patient's personal goals and life situation when deciding on the best treatment plan."
He went to to share that from a more technical perspective, he's much more willing to embrace the most modern techniques and technologies that have been proven to provide a more accurate and precise surgery, a faster and less painful recovery, and improved longevity.
"I have specialized training in anterior approach hip replacements and partial knee replacements, which has been proven to result in a faster and less painful recovery," he noted. "Also, I am very excited about increasing the use of navigation and robotics in hip, knee, and shoulder replacement in the Chattanooga area. This technology has been shown to improve precision and accuracy in implant placement, result in a faster and less painful recovery, improve patient satisfaction, and result in improved long-term implant survivorship."
To learn more about Dr. Lawson and his practice or to schedule a consultation, call his office at 423-803-4975 or visit orthopedicsurgicalspecialists.com or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OrthoSurgSpecialists.