Health

By William Kose, MD, JD
Vice President of Special Projects, Blanchard Valley Health System

Healthcare providers routinely order laboratory testing to help determine how to treat their patients. We want to take this opportunity to remind you not only that it’s important to get testing when it’s recommended but also that there are steps you can take to help make the process go more smoothly.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have fallen behind on routine appointments and other regular healthcare. If you are not yet caught up on your laboratory tests, we urge you to sooner rather than later to ensure that any problems the lab tests identify can be dealt with promptly.

Your primary care provider can help you determine which tests you should have routinely. Generally, standard recommendations are based on an individual’s age and gender. However, the recommendations may vary depending on your specific situation, such as if there is a family history of a certain condition.

By Thomas Kindl, MD
Pain Management, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Frequent knee pain affects approximately 25% of adults. While living an active lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your joints, it can commonly result in injury. Common problems related to knee pain include sprained ligaments, meniscus tears, tendinitis, runner’s knee, bursitis, osteoarthritis, and excess weight. 

Common symptoms of knee pain include:

• Pain when using the stairs
• Swelling in one or more joints
• Difficulty bearing weight on the knee
• Recurring pain or tenderness
• Inability to move a joint normally

Over 32 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a form of “wear and tear” arthritis that is the leading cause of knee pain in individuals over the age of 50.