I’m a hands-on kind of guy,” declares 60-year-old Daniel Allison, Eldridge, IA, who vowed that excruciating shoulder pain would not rule his life or keep him from fixing things, renovating houses, or working with his hands in general. Daniel, a retired Deere tool and die maker and Arsenal process engineer, found that with his advancing years, shoulder pain was keeping him awake at night. “It’s called getting old!,” he laughs. “But seriously, when you are young, you think you’re bulletproof, and then for people like myself, the old injuries and the wear and tear begin to catch up. When you lose the capacity to do the things you love, it’s time to see a doctor.” For Daniel, it meant shoulder replacement surgery that has now made him “feel like a new man.”
“My Shoulder Was Toast”
Daniel blames his shoulder pain on old wrestling injuries, from his years at Moline High School and Black Hawk College, that worsened over the decades. In his adult life, he channeled his passion for fitness and construction into designing solutions to prevent injury and improve efficiencies at Deere’s Davenport Works. His ideas and work in ergonomics to reduce stress and strain on manufacturing workers were nationally recognized. Ironically, for a professional who studied the human body and its efficient motion at work, Daniel’s shoulder pain grew worse as he entered retirement. “I couldn’t raise my arm above my head, and the cortisone shots weren’t helping anymore. It was so bad, pain ruled my life. That’s when I knew it was time for surgery,” he recalls. “My shoulder was toast.”
A Pain-Relieving Surgery
Dr. Steven Boardman, a board-certified surgeon from ORA Orthopedics who specializes in both total joint replacement and shoulder surgery, says Daniel’s shoulder joint had significantly deteriorated. “Osteoarthritis is common as people age, and in Daniel’s case, the cartilage surfaces in his shoulder were completely worn down. It’s very indicative of what we call degenerative joint disease — people lose their range of motion, they experience muscle weakness, and the pain begins to limit their lives.”
Dr. Boardman, who has been practicing orthopedics for a decade and performs more than 100 shoulder operations a year, says total shoulder replacements are a viable option for patients like Daniel. “The surgery takes about 45 minutes and the patients stay overnight at the hospital. The next day they are home, and with physical therapy they are often back up to full strength in less than a year. It’s a wonderful, pain-relieving procedure that makes a real difference in our patient’s lives.”
Dr. Boardman credits advances in the surgery with new, durable implants that do not wear out as frequently. “As long as our patients remain active and exercise their shoulder muscles, the implant can last several decades, depending on the health and fitness level of the patient. We find most patients can enjoy their sports, hobbies and recreational activities, and be as active as they want.”
ORA Orthopedics — The QC Leader in Orthopedic Care
From active seniors like Daniel, to amateur, elite, and professional athletes or even the smallest child who may need orthopedic care, ORA’s 27 trusted physicians treat more than 125,000 patients each year in a practice that serves a large part of the bi-state region.
ORA mobilizes its team of physicians and staff to put their diverse expertise and vast resources to work and get patients back to life. “Our mission is simply to ensure our patients reach their fullest potential and restore as much strength and movement as possible, all with the least amount of risk,” says Joseph Martin, MD, President.
“Our philosophy of care begins with respecting each patient and understanding their goals, so that in partnership with us, they receive the best possible outcome,” he adds. “Our experienced physicians and staff are specially trained in all aspects of orthopedic care so that we can offer a variety of innovative surgical and practical non-surgical options, backed by sound advice.”
ORA has become the region’s leading orthopedic practice after more than 50 years of building upon the expertise and the community commitment of its physicians. “Most of our physicians grew up in the Quad City region and have come home to raise their families and improve our area’s quality of life,” says Ken Brockman, CEO.
Eight Centers of Orthopedic Excellence
ORA’s practice is built upon eight centers of excellence that focus specifically on treating conditions related to such areas as: the spine, the foot and ankle, hands, hips and knees, pediatrics, shoulder and elbows, sports medicine, and its total joint center.
In fact, ORA’s Total Joint Center is one of the largest practices in the region: approximately 2,100 total joint procedures are performed at ORA each year. The center is also growing and offering treatment that puts patients on their feet and back to life. Adds Dr. Boardman, “Better diagnostic and imaging technology, as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques like arthroscopy, have transformed the way we perform our total joint surgeries: incisions are smaller, we are able to spare muscle, and our patients recover quickly.” The result — the majority of ORA’s patients return to doing the activities, sports, and hobbies they love — all while enjoying the highest standard of care in the region.
Just ask Daniel Allison who, as a toolmaker and engineer, certainly appreciates fine workmanship when he sees it. “Dr. Boardman just exudes confidence, and I am amazed at what he was able to do with my shoulder. I can do everything I used to do before the surgery.”
“I love working with tools and fixing things, but the objects that I fix don’t have a temperature of 98.6! We really need to appreciate the level of expertise that’s available to people, right here in our own community.”
ORA Orthopedics’ Vitals
Locations: 6
Physicians: 27
Physician Assistants: 17
Employees: 244
Bone Fractures Fixed: 4,220
Surgical Cases: 11,600
Patient Visits: 125,800
What started as two small practices in both Davenport and Moline more than a half century ago, now encompasses six locations in the Quad City area. While its main offices are based in Bettendorf and Moline, there are additional locations in Davenport and DeWitt. Illinois satellite locations include Silvis and Geneseo.
For injuries such as broken bones, strains and sprains, sports or work-related injuries, ORA offers an after-hours orthopedic injury clinic at its main office on 53rd in Bettendorf. Urgent OrthoCARE has in-house digital X-ray to help treat and diagnose your injury at the time of your visit. MRI services are also available.
Iowa: 563-322-0971
Illinois: 309-762-3621
Learn more about ORA Orthopedics www.qcora.com. For ORA events and patient success stories, follow us on Facebook.
ORA Orthopedics’ Centers of Excellence
ORA Orthopedics is committed to providing high-quality orthopedic care in the Quad City region. ORA offers services in general orthopedics, sports medicine, total joint replacement, pediatric orthopedics and orthopedic trauma. The practice’s Centers of Excellence features specialty-trained physicians in the following areas:
Foot and Ankle Center
Feet contain more than 100 bones, tendons, muscles and ligaments and form 33 joints. ORA physicians are specialists in foot and ankle pain and problems, and treat such injuries as ankle fractures, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis. From sprains and sports injuries to surgery for bunions and fractures, ORA ensures you put your best foot forward.
Hand Center
Common problems for hands and wrists include arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel or other fractures and dislocations. Many hand and wrist problems can also be treated non- surgically with splints, casts, cortisone injections or physical therapy. ORA physicians offer superior care, hands down.
Hip & Knee Center
Osteoarthritis, the loss of cartilage in the hip or knee joint from wear and tear, is common. Young athletes can also suffer cartilage or ligament tears that can sideline them for months. ORA’s hip and knee specialists perform common procedures including hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, and revisions to get patients back to life and doing things they enjoy.
Pediatric Center
Children can suffer from a number of common orthopedic injuries, including broken bones, fractures and growth plate trauma. ORA’s physicians are also specialty trained in pediatric orthopedics to treat conditions such as clubfoot, scoliosis and neuromuscular challenges.
Shoulder & Elbow Center
ORA physicians who specialize in the shoulder and elbow provide comprehensive treatment for a number of problems. Common shoulder injuries include tendonitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis and muscle tears. Elbow injuries can also be painful and treatments are available for tennis and golf elbow, as well as cubital tunnel syndrome.
Spine Center
Most people will experience back pain at least once during their lifetime. Experts at ORA’s spine center are specialty trained to treat back and neck pain, injuries, and other conditions such as degenerative and herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and bone spurs.
Sports Medicine Center
Many area professional and amateur athletes trust ORA to treat their sports-related injuries and manage their recovery than other orthopedic practice in the region.
Combining advanced treatment methods with one-on-one attention and on-site physical therapy to coordinate their comeback, ORA’s Sports Medicine Center is one of the largest in the Quad City region and is dedicated to getting you back in the game.
Total Joint Center
ORA’s joint replacement specialists have extensive experience in all aspects of joint care. Joint replacement surgery entails replacing a severely diseased joint, most commonly the hip, knee, or shoulder, with an artificial implant. Recent advancements in joint replacement surgery include more durable implants, less invasive surgical techniques and quicker recovery.
For more information log on to www.qcora.com. For ORA events and patient success stories, follow us on Facebook.