Wellstar Bone & Joint Care
Comprehensive Care to Get You Back in the Game
- Overview
- Our Care Team
- Non-surgical Treatments
- Surgical Treatments
- Rehabilitation
- Sports Medicine
- Osteoporosis Screening
- Conditions We Treat
- Specialized Orthopedic Care
Bone & Joint Care at Wellstar
Your favorite activities make everyday life your own, and bone or joint pain can keep you sidelined. At Wellstar, our skilled and caring team is ready to help you find relief and get back to life with less pain and more freedom. Nearly everything we do each day depends on the complex interaction of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. If there’s a problem with any one of these, movement can become challenging and pain can keep you from living your best life. At Wellstar, our orthopedic experts are focused on getting you back to doing the things you love. We treat children and adults, seasoned athletes and weekend warriors, helping with everything from sprains, strains and fractures to joint replacement, repetitive stress disorders and complex nerve and spine conditions. Our team will carefully evaluate your condition and provide personalized care tailored to your needs, including advanced nonsurgical and surgical therapies to support your healing. From diagnosis and treatment through recovery and rehabilitation, we’ve got you covered.Our Expertise and Experience Put You in Good Hands
When it comes to orthopedic care, experience matters. Our team of providers includes board-certified surgeons and sports medicine physicians who specialize in specific conditions and treatments. They bring years of knowledge and technical skill to your care and continuously stay up to date with the latest treatment advances. Working closely with our orthopedic doctors are radiologists, pain management physicians, physical and occupational therapists and rehabilitation specialists. With our team of experts behind you, you’ll have all the support you need for the best possible outcome.Recognized for Excellence and Results
Wellstar is committed to providing you the highest level of orthopedic care. Our services are nationally accredited, and our excellent patient outcomes have been recognized by leading orthopedic organizations.Improving Patient Care Through Research
At Wellstar, we don’t just provide exceptional patient care; we continuously strive to do things even better. Through research and clinical trials, we work to increase our understanding of musculoskeletal conditions and to develop and evaluate innovative treatments that improve outcomes and enhance quality of life for orthopedic patients. Our efforts bring the most promising treatment options to today’s patients and hope to tomorrow’s.A Full Range of Therapies to Return You to Active Living
There are many options for treating musculoskeletal conditions. We base treatment recommendations on your symptoms, physical exam and diagnostic tests, such as imaging studies. Working with you, we develop a treatment plan to help make it possible for you to return to active, pain-free living.Non-surgical Treatments
Whenever possible, we recommend the most conservative treatments first to help relieve your symptoms. Often, this involves only non-surgical therapies. Treatments we offer include:- Activity modification/rest
- Bracing, splinting and casting
- Icing
- Injection therapy
- Medication, such as anti-inflammatories, pain relievers and muscle relaxants
- Occupational therapy
- Orthotics
- Physical therapy and exercise
Surgical Treatments
In some cases, surgery is the most appropriate first-line treatment. Your doctor may also recommend a surgical procedure if conservative therapies don’t provide adequate relief. Wellstar offers state-of-the-art technology and advanced orthopedic surgeries, including robotic and minimally invasive procedures. These operations result in less discomfort and allow for a quicker recovery when compared to traditional orthopedic surgery. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. Procedures we offer include:- Arthroscopy
- Fusion
- Internal fixation
- Joint replacement (total, partial and revision)
- Microvascular repair and reconstruction
- Nerve decompression
- Nerve grafting and transfer
- Osteotomy
- Soft tissue repair
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation often plays an important part in recovery from orthopedic conditions and surgery. Our rehab team, which may include physicians, physical and occupational therapists, and others, will work with you to improve your strength, endurance, flexibility and range of motion. The goal is to help you get back to feeling like yourself so you can resume your normal activities as quickly as possible. Your specific rehab program will be tailored to your condition, abilities and goals. Rehabilitation services may be offered on an inpatient or outpatient basis.Sports Medicine
Our sports medicine team specializes in working with sports-related injuries in athletes of all ages and ability levels. In addition to providing expert diagnosis and treatment, the team offers advice on proper technique and conditioning, body mechanics and overall injury prevention. They also help athletes with sports nutrition and performance enhancement.Protect Your Bone Health
Early detection of health issues can often help prevent major problems. Screenings offered at Wellstar can help keep your bones healthy and strong.Osteoporosis Screening
Osteoporosis is a bone-weakening disease that may limit your mobility and increase your likelihood of experiencing serious fractures. Risk increases with age and certain medical conditions, and although anyone can get the disease, it’s most common in post-menopausal women. You can have osteoporosis without realizing it. However, a simple imaging exam, known as a bone density test, can identify the disease. With treatment and appropriate safety precautions, you can take control of osteoporosis and reduce your chances of breaking a bone. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends screening for:- Anyone who breaks a bone after age 50
- Men age 50 to 69 with risk factors
- Men age 70 or older
- Post-menopausal women younger than age 65 with risk factors
- Women age 65 or older
- Women of menopausal age with risk factors
Conditions We Treat
- Fractures
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sprains
- Strains
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
Specialized Orthopedic Care
Our Locations
Bone & Joint Care Locations
Currently showing 9 total listed locationsNews
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Wellstar Health System Ranked #9 by Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine
Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated health systems, has been ranked in the top 10 Best Workplaces in Health Care™ by Fortune Magazine in the “Large Company” category.
The Great Place to Work® Trust Index™ Survey results show that 81 percent of employees at Wellstar Health System say it is a great place to work, compared to an average of 57 percent for other U.S.-based companies. Additionally, 88 percent of Wellstar team members feel a sense of pride in accomplishments made at Wellstar.
To determine the Best Workplaces in Health Care list, Great Place to Work analyzed the survey responses of over 161,000 employees from Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies in the healthcare industry. The survey enables employees to share confidential quantitative and qualitative feedback about their organization’s culture by responding to 60 statements on a five-point scale and answering two open-ended questions. Collectively, these statements describe Wellstar’s positive employee experience, defined by high levels of trust, respect, credibility, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
Learn more about working for Wellstar at careers.wellstar.org.
Highlights
Wellstar Patient Thanks Her Care Team with Original Artwork
In 2001, Kathy Knopp had been suffering from terrible headaches. It all came to a head when Christmas Eve came and she could barely move her leg without physically dragging it. That’s when she knew it was time to go to the emergency room.
Spending Christmas Eve in a hospital waiting room was already not how Kathy thought her day would go, but when the doctor told her she needed emergency brain surgery and that she also had a collapsed lung, she knew what was about to unfold would be one of the most challenging times of her life.
Kathy spent the next three weeks in the hospital and though that would be difficult on anyone, Kathy shares the care she was given was the best and made a huge difference in her stay.
“I could not have asked for a finer hospital to care for me and am very thankful for all that the nurses and doctors did to aid in my recovery,” Kathy said.
After spending three weeks in the hospital, she went straight into rehabilitation for a month, and recovery was not easy.
Several years later when COVID hit and she had finally recovered, Kathy wanted to do something to give back to the nurses and doctors who did everything to make her long stay in the hospital more comfortable. This inspired Kathy to make something that they could look at every day and find hope. It’s what drove her to donate an original painting titled “The Land of Hope” created by Kathy and her fellow artist friends, Alison Keogler and Katie Kohu.
Kathy teamed up with the Wellstar Foundation to find the perfect location for her beautiful piece of art, which is now hanging in one of the Family Consultation Rooms at the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, where she hopes it will bring peace and comfort to families and hospital staff during stressful times.
We are grateful for Kathy's perseverance and generosity. Learn more about the Wellstar Foundation at wellstar.org/foundation.
Highlights
Lower Your Risk & Recognize Signs of Gynecological Cancer
In recent years, most cervical cancers have become completely preventable with a vaccine, and there are screening tests to identify it early. However, it’s important for women to understand the warning signs of gynecological cancers that don’t have screening tests, such as:
- Endometrial (uterine) cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
- Other rare types
Lower your risk for gynecological cancer
At your annual women’s health appointment, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about your family history and lifestyle choices that can make a positive impact on your health. Here are some ideas to consider lowering your risk for different types of gynecological cancer:
- Share your family history with your healthcare provider. Only about 5 to 10 percent of gynecological cancers are genetic, according to Wellstar Gynecologic Oncologist Dr. Amy Carroll. However, some patients may benefit from genetic risk assessment, which looks for hereditary gene mutations that increase an individual’s risk for ovarian cancer.
- Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. Women who are overweight have a higher risk of being diagnosed with the most common type of endometrial (uterine) cancer – and for the cancer to return after treatment. This is a challenge for many people and your health providers want you to feel empowered – not embarrassed – to discuss your BMI, nutrition, weight reduction and wellness.
- Stay tobacco-free or quit tobacco. Again, many health providers can help women with education and resources to quit smoking or vaping for the long haul. Quitting tobacco can reduce your risk for some gynecological cancers and many other health conditions.
Watch for changes in your body & talk to your doctor
Because there are no screening tests for gynecological cancers other than cervical cancer, it is important for women to be educated on the signs and symptoms — and to act on them.
“Unfortunately, there are many vague symptoms associated with a lot of gynecologic issues,” Dr. Carroll said. “Typically, I tell people if you have any symptom that doesn’t come and go but persists for a couple weeks or more, it’s worthwhile to talk to somebody about it.”
Dr. Carroll said that one symptom patients should always discuss with their provider is post-menopausal bleeding. Also, while most people experience occasional bloating, persistent bloating can be a sign of ovarian cancer and should be discussed with a provider, she said.
Signs & symptoms of gynecological cancer
Some gynecological symptoms to discuss with your doctor include:
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Excessively heavy menstrual cycles
- Abnormal bleeding between periods
- Unexplained pelvic or abdominal pain, bloating or nausea
- Discharge or pain with intercourse
- Severe change in bowel or bladder habits
- A heavy feeling in the pelvis
- A sore or lump in your vulva
The highest level of treatment for gynecological cancer
The physicians and healthcare teams at Wellstar are focused on keeping women healthy and preventing and lowering the risk of cancer and other health conditions. However, when a woman does get gynecological cancer, she has access to a team of experienced and knowledgeable gynecological cancer experts close to home.
Wellstar’s gynecologic cancer care program includes:
- A gynecological cancer-specific multidisciplinary tumor conference where gynecological oncologists, radiation and pathologists meet to diagnose and plan treatment.
- Gynecologic cancer surgeons who perform procedures robotically, laparoscopically or as open procedures, based on evidence-based practices that lead to the best outcomes.
- A robust support network that includes cancer-specific nutritional counseling, genetic counseling, nurse navigation, psychological counseling and more.
Learn more about gynecological cancer
Take control of your health and learn easy ways to prevent and screen for cervical cancer.