The Centeno-Schultz Blog

The patella tendon connects the knee cap ( patella) to the shin bone (tibia). It serves to stabilize the knee and allows the quadriceps muscle group to straighten the leg. The patella tendon is prone to rupturing in individuals with a history of patella tendon injury such as jumper’s knee or osteoarthritis. Injuries of this … Continued

Back pain left untreated often results in chronic back pain.  Yes often the spasms and  aches that weekend warriors experience resolve on their own. Unfortunately for others, back pain continues for weeks to months at a time resulting in chronic back pain.  Back pain treatment varies from each speciality but at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic we … Continued

Back pain is very common problem that plagues millions.  At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic it is our commitment to  correctly identify the source of ones back pain.  Failure to correctly identify the source of back pain can result in misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy.  Back surgery is all too often the answer provided to patients.  Back surgery … Continued

Patients both in the US and elsewhere are accustom to quick fixes.  If they have a sore throat they go to their doctor and receive an antibiotic and the sore throat resolves.  if they have rash, they go to the dermatologist and cream is dispensed and the rash resolves. Lower back pain unfortunately can arise … Continued

With the advent of texting as a means of communication, there appears to be an increase in the number of cases of thumb pain.     A common cause of thumb pain is arthritis of the carpometacarpal joint ( CMC).  This is where the metacarpal bone of the thumb attaches to the trapezium bone of the wrist. … Continued

It appears that the Canadian health system has close links to the American insurance companies.  In years past the American insurance companies did not recognize whiplash and its attendant disabling pain.  Rather they banded together to create the concept of  M.I.S.T.  (Minor Injury Soft Tissue Injury).  The concept held that whiplash was a psychosocial phenomenon.  … Continued

Shoulder pain can arise from many causes including osteoarthritis, loss of cartilage and damage to the supporting muscles and tendons.  Shoulder arthroscopy is often deemed essential to repair torn or degenerative tendons.  Often during shoulder arthroscoppy one or more tendons is mechanically re-attached to the bone in an effort to remove the “damaged” or diseased … Continued

Have you been told that your knee x-ray shows narrowing of the joint space and therefore your should have arthroscopic knee surgery?  Before you schedule for knee arthroscopic surgery or arthritis knee surgery consider the following facts. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine recently demonstrated that knee arthroscopy in patients with osteoarthritis … Continued

As a pain physician I am committed to identifying the source in a given patient so that the appropriate treatment can be provided.  We have learned that degenerative discs identified on  MRI of the lumbar spine are NOT  by default the origin of a patient’s back pain .  Degenerative lumbar discs are part of the aging … Continued

As an interventional pain physician, I have the opportunity to evaluate patients who are seeking alternatives to arthroscopic hip, hip resurfacing surgery and total hip replacement surgery.  Most patients want to avoid having the top of the femur sawed off and replaced with a metal prosthesis. Most patients come with x-rays and a history of … Continued