It’s no secret that wintertime tends to be rife with illnesses like the common cold and flu, but lesser-known health issues don’t lie dormant in the winter either. Chronic illnesses and injuries make themselves apparent in everyday activities while acute medical conditions can rear their ugly head at any time. Even though the spectrum of potential illnesses and injuries can appear endless, there’s an equally extensive list of specialized medical practitioners ready to treat them. New Orleans’ nationally recognized hospitals and medical universities ensure local healthcare providers are of the highest caliber – and these specialty medicine clinics
are no different.
Westside Orthopaedic Clinic
Serving the West Bank and Greater New Orleans region, Westside Orthopaedic Clinic provides superior general orthopaedic treatment with a specialty in spinal care. Known for its excellent and personalized care, the clinic has been in operation since 1961, making it one of the longest-standing orthopaedic clinics in the city.
Dr. Ralph Katz is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who has been performing minimally invasive procedures for 20 years with consistently excellent outcomes. For the right patient who has failed conservative treatment (e.g. medication, physical therapy, injections), a minimally invasive procedure can be done in an outpatient setting. The procedure typically takes about an hour. Most patients can return to normal activities within three to six weeks. Additionally, Dr. Katz performs cervical and lumbar spinal fusions, utilizing small incisions with minimally invasive systems. He is one of few local surgeons who perform cervical disc replacements.
Westside offers in-house x-rays and an experienced, caring staff who pride themselves on knowing patients by name. Call for an appointment today. For more information, visit westsideortho.com or call 504-347-0243.
Southern Pain & Neurological
For those with degenerative disc disease, back pain is an unfortunate part of everyday life. At Southern Pain & Neurological, Doctors Paul Hubbell and Donald Richardson have introduced new technology that has proven effective in clinical trials at repairing degenerative discs and increasing function. A non-surgical, cutting-edge technology, VIA Disc is an injection that uses allogenic tissue and micronized disc material to reverse disc damage from the inside out and thereby reduce pain.
Until now, there was no way to repair damage caused by degenerative disc disease. The VIA Disc procedure is performed under local anesthesia or sedation, under the guidance of your doctor, via fluoroscopy. Computer images provide live-action visuals during the procedure allowing the doctor to see exact needle placement. The needle is then inserted into the center of the intervertebral disc.
To learn more about degenerative disc disease, VIA Disc, and Southern Pain & Neurological, call 1-800-277-1265.
