5 Tips to Help with Exercise in Winter

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We all know that winter and its colder temperatures can lead to hibernation moods.  Shorter daylight can bring about a lack of motivation to go outside for a run or drive to the gym. It is, however, very important to stay active in winter. In some parts of Canada winter last longer than some people would hope for, and the need to exercise does not diminish. Below are 5 tips to get moving in winter

  1. Bring your workouts indoor – get a gym membership. If a paid gym is out of the budget, set up a small area in your home where you can practice yoga, lift weights or follow an online workout class. All you will need is a yoga mat, your phone and a set of weights.
  2. Join your kids or grandkids in their outdoor play. Some fresh air and moving around is sure to follow!
  3. Dress according to the weather and go outside – walk your dogs, have a look around your neighbourhood, observe winter changes at a local park.
  4. Get a group of friends to commit to a winter exercise routine and motivate each other to stay on track.
  5. Embrace the winter! It gives us an opportunity to ski, snowboard, skate, snowshoe, walk (yes, it is still an exercise in winter!) Pick a winter sport you might enjoy and give it a try!

Private Surgery in the US: Doctor’s Credentials

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Going for surgery is a big undertaking. Worries and doubts can be overwhelming. One of the things you can do to ease your pre-surgery anxiety is to check your surgeon’s credentials and online reviews.

In the USA, each state has a medical board and every practising physician must have a license issued by the medical board in the state they practice. State boards also can take disciplinary and corrective actions against the members. So if there are any disciplinary actions against a doctor in the past, they would be reflected on the state medical board website. The states are only required to list that particular state’s information, and if your surgeon lived and practised in other states, it may be useful to look those up as well.

In addition to required state board certification, there are board certifications by the speciality boards. In the US, there are three organizations that certify Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathy. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialties (AOABOS), and the American Board of Physician Specialties cover 26 recognized medical specialities. If a doctor is certified by a speciality board, it means that he or she has chosen to achieve expertise in a medical speciality or subspecialty. The certification is a highly visible indicator that the doctor is committed to providing quality patient care and knows today’s standards of practice.

In addition, there are many other self-designated boards. These boards can be established by anyone and the criteria for certification is established by a group of physicians. The requirements for membership are much less rigorous than the above-mentioned board certifications.

Online reviews can also tell more about the patient experience with a given doctor. While not everyone who had a pleasant experience will be writing a positive review, the presence of many or the majority of negative reviews is a sign that a further investigation may be required.

Health Vantis does all this groundwork for you, and present you with your doctor’s credentials. We can help you get private medical care with positive outcomes without the wait. Contact us at 877 344 3544 to find out more.

Private Spinal Fusion Surgery

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Minimally invasive surgery is one of the more common words used to describe newer surgery approaches and techniques. Spine surgeries are not an exception. We even came across ultra-minimally invasive when doing research. Things have definitely moved on in the past few years and spinal fusions are now routinely done on an outpatient basis.

However, the meaning of minimally invasive can be confusing. As we know, any surgery is a bit of a shock to your body. Recovering from surgery can take time.

The recovery from traditional spinal fusion was lengthy and painful. The traditional approach was to make an incision that is 5 to 6 inches long, move the muscles aside so that the surgeon can see the spine. One of the major drawbacks of open surgery is that the pulling of muscle can damage both the muscle and the surrounding soft tissue. Therefore, recovery is lengthy and painful. There is an increased risk of blood loss and infection.

Minimally invasive spine surgery was developed to treat spine issues with less tissue and muscle disruption. Through the use of specialized instrumentation, intraoperative navigation, advanced robotics and microsurgical techniques, surgeons are able to perform many common spinal procedures through very small incisions. These techniques lead to more rapid recovery, shorter hospital stays (often < 24 hours), less pain, lower complication rates, and faster return to work. There is less bleeding, fewer days spent in the hospital (if any) and therefore less risk of infection.

Many spine conditions can now be treated with minimally invasive surgery. Your neurosurgeon will be able to determine if you are a good candidate based on the sources and type of back pain you are experiencing and your diagnostic tests, such as X-ray and MRI.

Health Vantis provides access to no wait spinal fusions in the US. All surgeons are board-certified. Contact us now to find out more details on how you can get better sooner. Toll-Free 877 344 3544

Private Surgery for Spinal Stenosis

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The narrowing of the spinal canal is called spinal stenosis. When it occurs, it puts pressure on the nerves inside the canal and causes pain. If you have tried all non-surgical options and the pain persists, surgery may be an option.

One of the surgeries to treat spinal stenosis is called laminectomy. It helps relieve back pain that is caused by nerve pain. The procedure involves removal of the rear portion of one or more spinal bones to create space. Bone spurs or ligaments pressing on the nerves may also be removed. The surgery enlarges the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cords or nerves.

Spinal fusion can also be performed while doing the laminectomy. If both are done at the same time, your recovery will likely be longer.

This is usually an outpatient procedure, however, there could be reasons that require an overnight stay. Light walking is encouraged immediately after your surgery as you can tolerate it. You will have limitations such as bending, twisting or lifting things over 10lbs for at least 6 weeks. After an evaluation by your doctor, you will most likely be released to begin your physical therapy.

One thing to remember is that after you are released from your doctor, your body is still healing inside and out. It may take your insides several months, up to 18 in some cases, to completely heal or fuse together. Being conservative and erring on the side of caution for certain sports or activities should be considered. Always consult your doctor first.

Please give Health Vantis a call Toll-Free at 877-344-3544 or email at info@healthvantis.com if you would like more information or are considering this surgery.

Newsletter January 2020

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How Long Will You Wait for Surgery in 2020?

According to the Fraser Institute, over a million Canadians were waiting for a medical procedure in 2019. The median wait times from GP referral to treatment was reported as 20.9 weeks.

Usually, if the medical matter is urgent, one gets treated promptly here in Canada. When it does not involve a medical emergency, the provincial government health plans consider these elective procedures and/or non-urgent.  It doesn’t mean that the provincial insurance won’t cover what you need to have done, in most cases, however, you may just have to wait.

When it involves something that creates limitations in your day to day function, then it sure seems like it is urgent.  Constant pain is physically limiting and distracting with difficulties in focusing. The quality of life suffers. If you are a working adult, a decrease in your productivity or ability to work occurs.

Pain is the main indicator that something is wrong. Living with severe pain may produce a chain reaction. You may not be able to develop the coping skills required.  This may cause you to become unproductive, unable to exercise or possibly put you into a depression. Although doctors are getting more cautious with giving opioids out for pain control, they still do. This is considered a risk. Being on them in the short term may be appropriate but long-term usage will have more serious consequences such as addiction. Also, when you take an opioid it masks the pain. This could result in you to pushing yourself more than you should which can create or complicate your problem further.

The longer you have an ailment that is being untreated, the higher the chance of making things worse. For example, take a knee replacement. Our knees bear all of our weight when we walk or run, or simply are upright. They are the main hinge between the ground and the rest of our body. They allow us to get around. Waiting too long for your surgery can be counterproductive.

Your function going into surgery dictates how you will function afterwards. The longer you wait, the more muscle tone you lose which will make your recovery much longer and harder. Something spotted early may only require a minor procedure. Delaying that could cause, in the case of a knee, destruction to the knee joint to where it is so severe that a total knee replacement is now needed.

Needless to say, waiting in line to get medical help can be hurtful. To get help sooner, consider your private options. Call Health Vantis to find out the costs of private surgeries and how to obtain them in a safe and affordable manner. We are here to help. Toll-free 877 344 3544.

 

How Long Does a Private Joint Replacement Last?

Private Hip Replacement

Those suffering from arthritis in their joints are probably aware that a hip or knee replacement will relieve the pain for good. However, going through a total joint replacement surgery is undertaking a serious, albeit considered very successful surgery. If all non-surgical methods fail, your doctor will recommend a total hip or knee replacement.

One of the questions for your doctor should be “How long will my hip or knee last?”. It is an important factor to consider. Younger people are advised to wait to avoid future revisions. A standard answer to the longevity of the joint replacement has been 10-15 years.

A new study for hips and knees that came out in February 2019, tells us that joint replacements last longer. The study looked at almost 300,000 total knee replacements and over 200,000 total hip replacements. 58% of total hip replacement lasted 25 years. Total knee replacements had even longer longevity – 82% lasted 25 years.

Those numbers are encouraging for the aging population of North America. It is worth to note, however, that the study collected data from joint replacement surgeries performed in New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The results can differ in Canada. One of the private medical facilities we work with in the USA uses implants that are rated to last for 40 years. They also use robotics for the highest accuracy for private knee replacements.

It is ultimately your decision if you prefer to wait or get it done sooner. If you are put on a waitlist for a joint replacement and no longer can deal with waiting, Health Vantis can help access private hip or knee replacements. Give us a call to find out the details. Toll-Free 1 877 344 3544

Pre-op Testing: What Is Needed?

Once you make your decision to proceed with the surgery Health Vantis makes all the arrangements for you. One of the moving parts of preparation for surgery is pre-op testing. The requirements can be different, depending on the procedure you require and your individual health.

The two most common tests the doctors we work with ask our clients to complete are bloodwork and EKG. Blood work within the last 3 months prior to surgery is usually accepted. If more recent blood work is required, you can schedule a visit with your family doctor and ask for a requisition of what is needed. It usually takes a couple of days to get the results and those can also be picked up at your family doctor.

If you are over 65 and/or have high blood pressure or other cardiological issues, an EKG test is required. In most provinces, it is fairly easy to get. Again, this can be done through your family doctor.

If the results of the EKG are concerning, a cardiological clearance is required. This one is not as easily obtained as the EKG or blood work. Most of the facilities we work with can suggest a local cardiologist that can schedule a consult on short notice to accommodate your surgery date. The cost varies per doctor and location and will be communicated to you by Health Vantis upfront.

Sometimes, when there is a GYN surgery involved, the surgeon would like to see the results of the most recent PAP test. This is done to ensure the overall health of the client is acceptable for surgery.

If you are considering private surgery and have any questions, we are here to help! Toll-free 1 877 344 3544