Dr. David Crawford

You can’t just blame all bone complications on genetics. Yes, a lot of bone deformities and complications are hereditary, but they are triggered by external factors. For example, let’s say your parents have osteoporosis. You’ll still be able to live for decades without experiencing complications if you know how to take care of your bones properly. On the other hand, Dr. David Crawford shares that someone with excellent genes can still develop complications if they lead an unhealthy lifestyle. So what factors affect overall bone health? 1. Exercise Frequency If you want healthy bones, you need to keep them well-lubricated and strong through regular exercise. Of course, you don’t have to follow a complete bodybuilding regimen. Walking a few miles or cycling for a few minutes daily is more than enough. 2. Age and Gender Generally, older women are the most prone to bone deformities. The female body has less protective tissues than the male body does and the bones weaken over ti...

  Dr. David Crawford shares that if you ever fracture or break a bone, there are now more options for healing. As  3D printing technology  continues to develop, 3D printed casts have started becoming more viable. These marvels of technology are a fantastic new way to help your fractured or broken bones set. A 3D printed orthopedic cast can have different designs. Generally, they are a shell-type cast made using some plastic material. 3D printed casts solve many problems that traditional plaster casts have. Some of them are: 3D printed casts are more lightweight.  Because of the way they are designed, Dr. David Crawford shares they barely bother you in your day to day life. The casts weigh almost nothing and keep your limb straight to allow your bone to set properly. Unlike plaster casts, 3D printed casts leave your limb accessible.  This means you can still take a shower without having to worry about keeping the cast dry. 3D printed casts are also adequ...

Spinal injuries are no laughing matter. Someone who has hit their spine, nape, or head might not even be able to move for a while. That’s why it’s the duty of bystanders to assist the injured and provide first aid. Dr. David Crawford explains in detail what you should do if you ever encounter someone with a spinal injury: Step 1: Call for Help The first thing you need to do is to call for help. Dial 911 or reach out to the nearest hospital that provides emergy medical treatments. If there’s a nearby orthopedist in the area, contact them. Pro Tip: Dr. David Crawford advises everyone to save the numbers of all institutions that provide medical help in their area. This will prove to be useful not just with spinal injuries, but in all kinds of accidents as well. Step 2: Provide Airway Without Moving the Head Do not move the injured’s head. As much as possible keep their neck steady at all times. Even the slightest movement can worsen the trauma. If they are not breathing, gentl...

Living with arthritis is not easy. Dr. David Crawford states that it is necessary for patients to overhaul their lifestyle if they want to manage joint swelling and inflammation. And one of the most important things to work on is one’s diet. Dr. David Crawford advises that patients should generally avoid these food and drink options: 1. Processed Meat A bacon, sausage, and egg breakfast might sound delicious, but it’s also very unhealthy for arthritis patients. These kinds of processed meat are loaded with preservatives and transfats. If consumed on a daily basis, you’ll be putting your body at risk of swelling and inflammation. 2. Refined Sugar Patients should stay away from foods and drinks that are high in refined sugar. These include high-sugar cereal, chocolate bars, sodas, and milkshakes. 3. Omega-6 Fatty Acids In small amounts, omega-6 fatty acids can be very beneficial. These foods help regulate blood pressure levels, control cholesterol, and improve heart health. E...

Post-joint replacement recovery can be just as painful as arthritis itself. Dr. David Crawford warns that until your joints fully heal, they’ll still be at risk, so you need to be extra careful with them. Now, the problem is that most patients aren’t familiar with post-operation care. After all, it’s not something you can learn through experience. And the hardest part about it all is that your surgeon might not be always there to help. For example, let’s say your knee starts aching in the middle of the night and you can’t reach your doctor, what do you do? Should you call for an ambulance? Can you suppress the pain with medicine? Should you just tough out the pain? To prevent these kinds of dilemmas, Dr. David Crawford suggests downloading the My Mobility app. It’s a telehealth program made specifically for patients recovering from joint replacement surgery. Here are some of the reasons why patients love it: First, it gives you a direct line to your orthopedic surgeon. Coordina...

While surgeons may only give you recommendations, Dr. David Crawford stresses that the decision to get a hip replacement surgery is ultimately up to you. He understands that some people may opt-out of the procedure altogether, choosing to deal with hip pain instead. They may want to delay surgery because they fear the unknown, ending up worse off than before, and fear of post-surgery pain. Despite these worries, he is quick to assure patients that hip replacement surgery is always worth it in the end. After all, only advanced cases of joint disease that do not respond to non-invasive procedures are considered for total hip replacement surgery. However, there are risks involved in delaying the surgery, particularly when your surgeon has already recommended you to do so. What happens when you delay your hip replacement surgery? Dr. David Crawford says that non-compliance may lead to increased pain, lack of mobility, and further deterioration of the hip joint. The biggest...