Sunday 30th October - Hernia Surgey

What are the advantages of key-hole surgery?
The main ones are less postoperative pain, quicker recovery and prompt return to normal activities.

What types of hernia are suitable for key-hole surgery?
Inguinal hernias (groin), umbilical hernias (belly button) or hernias appearing at the site of a previous scar (incisional), they may all benefit from key-hole surgery.

I was advised to have my groin hernia repaired – will I be able to go home the same day of my surgery?
The majority of patients undergoing key-hole repair will be able to go home the same day of the operation.

What if I don’t get my hernia fixed?
A bit of bowel might get trapped inside the hernia (strangulation). This condition usually requires emergency surgery.

Sunday 23rd October - Heel Pain

There two most common causes of heel pain are plantar fasciitis, which affects the sole of the foot, and Achilles tendon disease, which affects the heel cord at the back of the heel.

Physiotherapy is the first treatment for both conditions. If the pain does not go away then in some situations steroid injections and braces might be helpful.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a new treatment which can be used for both conditions. It is a fast, safe, painless and effective treatment which can be given on the spot in the outpatient clinic. Surgery for both conditions is a last resort but there are new operations which are faster, less invasive and carry fewer side effects.

Most of the time the pain comes on quite gradually. If you have a very sudden pain which feels as if you have been kicked in the calf you might have ruptured the Achilles tendon and should seek urgent medical attention.

Sunday 16th October - Rotator Cuff Tendon

The rotator cuff tendon is very important for basic functions of the shoulder such as lifting and rotating the arm.

Symptoms usually include a ‘toothache’ sensation around the shoulder region, often made worse when trying to lift the arm, particularly if holding a weight in the hand.

Patients typically complain of pain in bed at night, especially if they roll onto the affected shoulder.

Treatment usually begins with a trial of non-surgical treatment, such as physiotherapy, sometimes
complimented by steroid injections.

If symptoms don’t settle then surgical repair of the tendon can be helpful. Surgery is performed as  day case procedure using a keyhole technique. A sling must be worn postoperatively for up to  four weeks and recovery after surgery is very slow. It can often take several months to regain good function of the shoulder and this depends on the size of the tear and quality of the tendon repaired.

The surgery has an excellent success rate with shoulder pain settling by two to three months postoperatively and function continuing to improve up to one year.

Sunday 9th October - Cataracts

Mr Jonathan J Ross is a Consultant Ophthalmic and Eyelid Surgeon at Spire Murrayfield Hospital.

Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eyeball becomes cloudy, usually as a result of age, medication or injury. As cataracts progress they cause blurred vision, glare in bright sunlight and when driving at night, and can also make your eyes more short sighted, requiring you to change your spectacles.

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed operation in the United Kingdom and can now be carried out safely and painlessly using only drops for anaesthetic. Following surgery you can return home after an hour, and commence normal activities within one week. In most cases distance vision is clear without the need for glasses, and your optician can prescribe new glasses for reading.

Sunday 2nd October - Varicose Veins

Mr Rod Chalmers is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Spire Murrayfield Hospital.

Varicose veins are tortuous dilated veins located just under the skin of the legs. They are caused
by leaky vein valves. About 30 per cent of women and men are affected and the condition
often runs in families. Traditional surgery involves “stripping” the main vein trunks which,
although effective, does result in considerable pain and time off work. Nowadays, over 90
per cent of patients with varicose veins (even if they have had previous surgery) are suitable for
the minimally invasive technique of radiofrequency ablation. This technique uses heat energy to
close the vein trunks under ultrasound control, which has the same effect as removing them without the surgical trauma. It is a day case procedure and can be done under local anaesthetic. There are no large wounds and recovery is very fast such that most people are back to normal activities in days. The long-term results are superior to any other technique currently available.