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Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
About me
Having worked in orthopedic clinical practice for over ten years, he is a committee member for the Asia-Pacific Foot and Ankle Chinese District.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in treating foot and ankle injuries and diseases.
Voices
Non-surgical treatment methods for lumbar disc herniation
Methods for non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation currently include the following in clinical practice: The first is traction therapy, which can relieve pain and numbness in the lower back, though the effectiveness in alleviating numbness may not be very significant; The second is massage, which can also relieve symptoms of pain in the lower back; The third involves the use of topical plasters, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic plasters, as well as plasters that activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis, to relieve localized pain; The fourth can be achieved through electrotherapy or magnetotherapy; The fifth is acupuncture. Currently, the application of acupuncture to relieve symptoms of lumbar disc herniation in clinical practice is quite evident; it has a better effect than traction. Additionally, oral medications that nourish the nerves are required because patients with lumbar disc herniation might have a protruded disc compressing the nerve roots, possibly causing nerve root damage. Therefore, it is also necessary to take certain nerve-nourishing medications orally to alleviate these symptoms.
Differences between bone hyperplasia and osteoporosis
Bone hyperplasia and osteoporosis are quite different. Firstly, bone hyperplasia occurs due to long-term stress and degeneration of joints, including the lumbar spine, causing the bones around the joints to harden and proliferate, forming bone spurs. On the other hand, osteoporosis mainly results from decalcification and calcium deficiency, leading to weakened or porous bones. These bones are brittle and can easily fracture under trauma. As for the treatment of these two diseases, conservative treatment is mainly used for bone hyperplasia, such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage, oral blood-activating and pain-relieving medications, to alleviate local symptoms. Treatment for osteoporosis primarily involves oral medications, such as calcium supplements and vitamin D3, along with exposure to sunlight. Of course, some patients suffer from osteoporosis due to long-term disuse, as seen in patients with hemiplegia who are unable to walk for extended periods, leading to disuse osteoporosis. These patients also need to strengthen their routine functional exercises, such as undergoing suitable rehabilitation to enhance bone strength. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)
Can tendinitis be cured?
Tenosynovitis is curable, and there are currently two clinical treatment methods for tenosynovitis. The first method is conservative treatment. The most important and main point of conservative treatment is rest. You can go to the hospital to have a plaster or brace made to protect and restrict the movement of the fingers and wrist. Secondly, you can take some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs orally to relieve local pain. Third, local pain points can also be injected with a block to relieve pain. However, the number of times block needle treatment can be used is limited to once or twice a month at most. Thirdly, local hot compressions can be applied to increase local blood circulation and thereby relieve local pain. If the above conservative treatments are ineffective and symptoms progressively worsen, surgical treatment can be pursued, which can completely cure tenosynovitis. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)
Is it okay to swim every day with lumbar disc herniation?
Patients with lumbar disc herniation can swim because swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise. While swimming, it appropriately exercises the muscles in the lower back area, thereby alleviating symptoms of lower back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation. It is crucial for all patients with lumbar disc herniation to avoid exercises that load the lower back, such as playing ball, running, marathon running, and weightlifting in the gym. These activities create vertical pressure that can exacerbate lumbar disc herniation, leading to nerve root damage and eventually requiring surgical intervention to alleviate the pain.
What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma recurrence?
The symptoms of recurrent osteosarcoma include the following points: Firstly, if osteosarcoma recurs, it can cause sudden severe pain in the affected limb. This pain tends to intensify as the disease progresses and may shift from intermittent pain to continuous pain. Secondly, there might be metastasis to the lungs or other parts of the body. In such cases, if lung metastasis occurs, the patient will experience significant chest tightness and breathing difficulties. Thirdly, recurrent osteosarcoma can also lead to weight loss, decreased appetite, and the occurrence of low-grade fever. Fourthly, if the tumor recurs, the patient’s joints and the affected limb's mobility will be significantly hindered, and this can also cause numbness in the affected limb.
Is it good to get a steroid injection for tenosynovitis?
Treating tenosynovitis with injections is acceptable. Injections can significantly alleviate the pain caused by tenosynovitis and symptoms of limited joint mobility. However, it is imperative to take precautions during this treatment. Firstly, the injection contains steroids and anesthetics, so the number of injections must be limited. Generally, it is advisable to administer it once or twice a month. Excessive injections should be avoided as they can damage the local tendons or even the tendon sheaths, potentially exacerbating the pain from tenosynovitis or leading to spontaneous tendon ruptures. Therefore, the frequency of injections should be limited to a maximum of one to two times per month. Secondly, it’s crucial to ensure proper disinfection of the area during injections to prevent infections at the injection site and attend to potential bacterial infections. (Use of medication should be under the guidance of a physician.)
What is the metastatic pathway of osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma commonly spreads in three ways. The first is through hematogenous dissemination, meaning that tumor cells spread throughout the body via the bloodstream, a process known as hematogenous spread. The second method is called implantation metastasis, where tumor cells directly implant in the common sites of osteosarcoma, leading to localized disease. The third type is lymphatic spread, where tumor cells spread to multiple parts of the body through the lymphatic system, causing new tumor growth. These three pathways are the most common routes of metastasis seen clinically in osteosarcoma, with hematogenous spread being the most frequent.
The cause of osteosarcoma
At present, the causes of osteosarcoma are not yet clear, but it may be related to genetics, exposure to radioactive substances, and viral infections. It can also be secondary to other deformative osteitis and fibrous dysplasia of bone. Furthermore, some cases can also develop from other benign tumors, gradually degenerating into malignant tumors. Osteosarcoma commonly affects the long bones, mostly located at the metaphyseal ends, with fewer cases in the middle of the diaphysis. The tumor develops very rapidly, generally spreading gradually towards the ends of the bone, destroying the bone tissue, causing the tumor mass to quickly reach under the periosteum, and invading the neighboring muscle tissue outwardly.
Osteosarcoma common onset age
Osteosarcoma most commonly occurs in adolescents under the age of 20, or in children, and is a type of malignant tumor. It is the most common malignant bone tumor in children, accounting for about 5% of all malignant tumors in children, making this age group highly susceptible to osteosarcoma. The formation of osteosarcoma is mainly due to external factors such as viral infections and genetic mutations that lead to cell mutations. Osteosarcoma is a typical malignant tumor that destroys bone and surrounding soft tissue, leading to pathological fractures. It can also form distant metastases, thus posing a significant threat.
early symptoms of osteosarcoma
The early symptoms of osteosarcoma mainly include the following types: First, pain - patients will experience obvious pain in the affected limb. Second, lumps - lumps can be felt on the affected limb, accompanying significant tenderness. The growth rate of such lumps is directly related to your pathology and the course of your disease; the more severe your condition, the larger the lump. Third, limping - limping is caused by chronic pain in the affected limb. Over time, there may also be limited joint mobility and muscle atrophy in the affected limb. Fourth, symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and anemia may occur. Furthermore, in the middle and late stages of osteosarcoma, pathological fractures might occur.