EXPERT
David Mitchell
Orthopedist
Dr. David Mitchell is an orthopaedic surgeon practicing in Ballarat, VIC. Dr. Mitchell specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, diseases and disorders of the body's musculoskeletal system. As an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Mitchell tends to bones, ligaments, muscles, joints, nerves and tendons. Orthopaedic surgeons can specialize in certain areas like the hand, spine, hip, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, or the knee.
David Mitchell
- Ballarat, VIC
- MBBS at the University of Melbourne
- Not accepting new patients
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What are the symptoms of tendonitis in the ankle?
The common tendonitis is of the achilles tendon, or heel cord. The common variant is non-insertional, where the tendon is swollen about 4-5cm above the insertion on the calcaneus, READ MORE
The common tendonitis is of the achilles tendon, or heel cord. The common variant is non-insertional, where the tendon is swollen about 4-5cm above the insertion on the calcaneus, the heel bone. Early on, it isn't swollen, only painful. Typically it becomes disabling, preventing running. The treatment is usually a combination of a blood injection - ABI - using the patient's own blood. A physiotherapy program of eccentric training also help, but the blood injection my opinion is the key.
Another variant of achilles tendonitis is insertional, where the pain is right where it connects to bone. The treatment for this can be initially physiotherapy, but if more aggressive treatment is required, it is usually surgery to remove a "bump" of bone, and if necessary repair the tendon to bone. Other tendonitis conditions occur of the perineal tendons, on the outer aspect of the ankle, or the tibialis posterior, on the inner aspect of the ankle. These are interesting, but rare.
Cheers,
Mr. David Mitchell
Another variant of achilles tendonitis is insertional, where the pain is right where it connects to bone. The treatment for this can be initially physiotherapy, but if more aggressive treatment is required, it is usually surgery to remove a "bump" of bone, and if necessary repair the tendon to bone. Other tendonitis conditions occur of the perineal tendons, on the outer aspect of the ankle, or the tibialis posterior, on the inner aspect of the ankle. These are interesting, but rare.
Cheers,
Mr. David Mitchell
What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can affect many joints - perhaps in our society the most common joint is the knee. The non operative treatment is to be "strong, supple, and slim." There are some READ MORE
Osteoarthritis can affect many joints - perhaps in our society the most common joint is the knee. The non operative treatment is to be "strong, supple, and slim." There are some tablets options, but narcotics should not be used. If the joint involved is the finger joints - generally hand therapy is better than surgery. The results of hip and knee replacement are good, but at 50 years of age, you are young for these operations, and should go to a surgeon with a special interest rather than just a guy. For 50-year-old patients with knee arthritis, especially both sides, if it is not advanced, and if the patient is heavy, bariatric surgery is better than knee replacement.
Cheers,
Mr. David Mitchell
Cheers,
Mr. David Mitchell
My mother is diagnosed with osteonecrosis. Is there a treatment for this condition?
The treatment of osteonecrosis depends on where it is, how progressed, and how symptomatic it is. For painful but normal shape areas of osteonecrosis, sometimes a minor drilling READ MORE
The treatment of osteonecrosis depends on where it is, how progressed, and how symptomatic it is. For painful but normal shape areas of osteonecrosis, sometimes a minor drilling procedure can stop the pain and help the bone spring back to life. In a 78 year old, it might well be part of arthritis, and a joint replacement might be the best option. How painful and how disabled the patient is are the key questions.
