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Midwest Center for Joint Replacement Blog View all posts

Welcome Dr. Rick Weidenbener
Meet Dr. Rick Weidenbener, the newest member of the MCJR team! Dr. Weidenbener is a non-surgical sports medicine specialist who will see patients exclusively in our Bloomington office.
Sep 27th, 2023

Dr. Brian Badman to see patients at MCJR
We're excited to announce that Dr. Brian Badman, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder replacement, will begin seeing patients out of our Indianapolis office in July.
Jun 27th, 2023

Meet Dr. Colin Penrose
We're excited to announce that Dr. Colin T. Penrose will be joining the MCJR surgeon team in Summer 2022. Get to know Dr. Penrose!
Oct 26th, 2021

Caring for Arthritis in this 2020 Winter Season
The winter is upon us and we're bundled up inside this year more than ever before. Caring for arthritis in 2020 has some extra challenges. But here are some ways to keep your joints healthy this winter.
Dec 8th, 2020

MCJR Launches Pre-Op Program
Midwest Medical Services: Pre-Op Program Preoperative care is a vital piece of preparing for any joint replacement surgery. At MCJR, we do our best to understand your health history and mitigate any risks and complications that may arise. We also...
Jul 8th, 2020

Patient Story: Meet Dick
Indianapolis resident Dick Lutin is a patient of Dr. Carter's who underwent hip replacement surgery in August 2018. Dick loves being outdoors and doing his favorite hobby -- fossil hunting -- with his two daughters. When he suffered an injury to...
Jun 10th, 2019

Treating Meniscus Tears
One of the most common causes of knee pain has nothing to do with your bones and everything to do with the cartilage around your knees. Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries and they can happen at any...
Oct 25th, 2018

Patient Story: Meet Patrice
Meet Patrice Goodwin, one of our dear patients who is a month shy of her two-year anniversary from getting a left total knee replacement – and she’s back to waterskiing!
Oct 12th, 2018

MCJR Sponsors Mallow Run “Wine at the Line”
The MCJR team loves to get involved in our local community, and one of the ways we do that is by finding sponsorship opportunities around town. Wine at the Line This Saturday, September 29, the MCJR team helped sponsor Mallow...
Oct 1st, 2018

MCJR Sponsors YMCA 5K Run/Walk
The MCJR team loves to get involved in the community outside of the office. One way we do this is through sponsorships of local events and teams. We are dedicated to giving our time and resources to help our local...
Jun 4th, 2018

How Do I Know If I Have Arthritis?
It's normal to feel aches and pains as you grow older, so when do you know it's time to see a doctor? Arthritis is the leading cause of joint pain in adults, affecting one in five Americans. If you have any...
May 11th, 2018

Why Would I Choose a Partial Knee Replacement?
All three of our surgeons are specialists in the partial knee replacement. Because this procedure is fairly new, we always get a lot of questions about its effectiveness. Here are some of the main questions we hear about partial knee...
Apr 11th, 2018

Recovery from Surgery When You Live Alone
It's been proven that people recover from surgery faster and have fewer complications when they get to recover in the comfort of their own homes from Day 1. Often, however, people ask us how they'll manage recovery from surgery at home...
Mar 28th, 2018

Revision Joint Replacement Surgery
Total joint replacements - especially hip replacements - are some of the most successful and effective surgeries out there. MCJR's joint replacement successes are no different, with a 98% high patient satisfaction rate. Modern joint components are made...
Feb 13th, 2018

Can Cold Weather Affect your Arthritis?
People with arthritis often complain of heightened joint pain during the cold winter months or rainy seasons. This is seen as a myth by some, but studies show that weather changes actually can affect your joint pain. So if this...
Jan 19th, 2018

What is Post-Traumatic Arthritis?
Most people may think arthritis develops primarily from a general wear-and-tear that age brings on your joints. Unfortunately, many people also develop arthritis months to years to decades after they've sustained an injury. This is known as...
Jan 4th, 2018

Caring for Arthritis During the Holidays
The holiday season is quickly upon us! Sweet treats, comfort foods, and holiday drinks are calling your name at every turn, and warm gatherings with family and friends cause for much celebration. However, the combination of cold weather and rich foods...
Dec 1st, 2017

Treating Avascular Necrosis
The main reason people need a joint replacement is from osteoarthritis, but there are other joint conditions that may require surgical attention, including one called avascular necrosis. While this condition is much rarer than arthritis, it is a serious...
Nov 17th, 2017

Steroid Injections for Joint Pain
Arthritis affects over 50 million people, which is 1 in 5 people over the age of 18. If you are part of that statistic, you know that the pain from arthritis can be debilitating. However, just because you have arthritis doesn’t mean you will...
Nov 3rd, 2017

Dealing with a Torn Achilles Tendon
What is a torn Achilles tendon? An Achilles tendon rupture, better known as a torn Achilles tendon, is a very common injury, but requires attention from a doctor. It occurs when the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel...
Sep 15th, 2017

What is hip bursitis?
Many people come into our clinic every day with chronic hip pain. While many of our patients have osteoarthritis and require a hip replacement or reconstructive surgery, others are diagnosed with the most common cause of hip pain - hip...
Aug 31st, 2017

Meet Grant Foley, Executive Director
Meet Grant Foley, Executive Director Welcome the newest member of the MCJR team, Grant Foley, our Executive Director! Grant has 20 years of management experience in orthopedic physical therapy. He received a bachelor's degree in Business Marketing at...
Aug 10th, 2017

Outpatient joint replacement surgery benefits everyone involved
In recent years, physician research has shown that outpatient joint replacement surgery benefits everyone involved - from the patients to the physians and clinicians. Patients recover better when they return home after surgery, instead of staying in the...
Jul 14th, 2017

Smoking causes worse outcomes in joint replacement
Most people know that smoking can cause significant damage to a person's lungs and heart – but did you know that smoking can also damage a person's joints? Because of this, smoking causes worse outcomes in joint replacement surgery. Patients...
Apr 21st, 2017

Foot and Ankle Specialist seeing patients at MCJR
Meet Dr. Steven Herbst More than anything, MCJR is dedicated to making the healthcare experience more accessible and comforting for our patients. One of the ways we strive to do that is by meeting as many of your orthopedic needs...
Apr 14th, 2017

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Management and Surgical Options
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH), carpal tunnel release is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. It occurs in your hands when "the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into...
Apr 7th, 2017

Upper extremity surgeon to see patients at MCJR
Meet Dr. Sebastian Peers We have some exciting news - MCJR is partnering with a hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder specialist, Dr. Peers, to see patients in our office! Dr. Peers is from Reconstructive Hand to Shoulder of Indiana (RHSI) in...
Mar 24th, 2017

MCJR featured in Faces of Indy
Faces of Indy: The Face of Outpatient Joint Replacement Indy's local mag Indianapolis Monthly featured our Midwest Center for Joint Replacement surgeons in their second annual Faces of Indy publication. IM's goal for publishing this edition every year...
Mar 16th, 2017

What is a Total Ankle Replacement?
Procedure: Total Ankle Replacement Although our ankles bear as much body weight as our knees, they are much less likely to develop osteoarthritis – 9 times less likely, in fact! This is in part because ankle cartilage is denser and...
Mar 13th, 2017

6 Myths about Joint Replacement
Avoiding a joint replacement? We're here to debunk some of the most common myths we hear from our patients. MYTH #1: "A joint implant will only last me 10 years" FACT: There are a few reasons why a joint replacement...
Feb 16th, 2017

Medical Missions
Dr. Jackson and Steve Spry go to El Salvador The week of January 21-29, Dr. Jackson and his nurse, Steve Spry went on a medical missions trip to El Salvador with Calvary Lutheran Church. The team set up medical clinics,...
Feb 10th, 2017

Painful Joint Replacement?
Have you had a joint replacement and it's been nothing but painful? Is your joint replacement years old and you're worried it's worn out? Just like hips and knees can “go bad” (arthritis) and require a joint replacement, hip and...
Jan 20th, 2017

Write a Review!
We love to hear feedback about your experience at MCJR! If you are interested, write surgeon reviews online: Healthgrades.com: Type your physician’s name in the search box Hit "Search" Click “Take the Survey” and fill out as appropriate To read...
Jan 6th, 2017

Video: Watch an Anterior Hip Replacement
Anterior Approach to Hip Replacement We provide the direct anterior approach (DAA) to the hip replacement here at MCJR. The DAA involves going around the muscles of the hip instead of splitting through them. Because of this, your hip is less likely...
Dec 23rd, 2016

Rotator Cuff Tears and Repairs
What is the rotator cuff? The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles - the subscapularis, the supraspinatus, the teres minor, and the infraspinatus - that combine to form a "cuff" over the upper end of the arm, or the...
Dec 9th, 2016

Early Symptoms of Knee Arthritis
If you’ve been having pain in your knees, but aren’t sure if it’s connected to arthritis, check for these warning signs: Increase in pain You may have a gradual increase in pain, especially in the morning or after a period...
Nov 18th, 2016

Aging Athletes: Exercise With or Without Joint Replacement
Baby boomers were the first American generation to make daily exercise a priority. Today, many aging athletes are defying the myth that you have to stop playing your favorite sport as you age. However, as much as they hate to admit,...
Nov 4th, 2016

Managing Diabetes and Osteoarthritis
Managing Diabetes and Osteoarthritis Although diabetes and osteoarthritis are independent conditions, they have been known to aggravate one another. It can be more difficult to manage your osteoarthritis pain when you have diabetes because your internal...
Oct 21st, 2016

Obesity is a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis
According to the Center for Disease Control, over 2 out of 3 Americans are overweight or obese…and more than 1 in 3 of those obese people will get arthritis in their lifetime. The definition of "overweight" in most cases is...
Sep 30th, 2016

Falls and Osteoarthritis
Falls are a risk for elderly people - especially for people over age 65 who suffer from osteoarthritis in their joints. Accidental falls can lead to a serious fracture, which may lead to loss of independence or the need for...
Sep 9th, 2016

Free Senior Health Fair at Jordan YMCA
We are excited to announce that Dr. Carter and his team will be at the Senior Health Fair at the Jordan YMCA on September 28! The event is FREE and open to the public! Dr. Carter's team will be there to...
Sep 2nd, 2016

September Joint Health Seminar in Bloomington
Drs. Berend and Lackey will be hosting another FREE seminar on joint and bone health at the Stonecroft Health Center in Bloomington on September 15. They will discuss ways to improve joint health, give information about our joint replacement procedures,...
Aug 26th, 2016

What is a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement?
Total shoulder replacements are not as common as hip and knee replacements, but our surgeons offer this procedure, as it is just as successful and effective in relieving pain. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, only about...
Aug 12th, 2016

Joint Health Seminar in Terre Haute
Drs. Lackey and Carter will be hosting another FREE seminar on joint and bone health in Terre Haute. Drs. Lackey and Carter will discuss ways to improve joint health. They will also provide information about joint replacement procedures and answer...
Aug 9th, 2016

Joint Health Seminar in Bloomington
We will be hosting a FREE bone and joint health seminar with Drs. Wesley Lackey and Joshua Carter in Bloomington on Wednesday, August 17. Drs. Lackey and Carter will discuss ways to improve joint health, provide information about joint replacement...
Aug 4th, 2016

Inpatient Hospital Receives 5-Star Rating for Quality
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services compare over 4,000 hospitals and rate them on a competitive five-star scale. This week, they published the Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings and rated our inpatient facility, Franciscan St...
Jul 30th, 2016

What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, affects more people than any other chronic joint condition. According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 27 million Americans suffer from the problem, which can...
Jul 27th, 2016

Outpatient surgery is effective for hip and knee replacements
Don’t let the fear of hip or knee surgery keep you from seeing a surgeon. Patients with hip and knee problems used to undergo complicated surgical procedures that could make them immobile for months while they underwent a lengthy recovery...
Jul 17th, 2016

Bunions Got You Bummed?
Bunions are bony spurs that occur on the first joint of your big toe. The bone becomes misaligned when the spur forms, and pushes the bones out of normal alignment. They usually cause a great deal of discomfort, especially when...
Jun 27th, 2016

What Causes Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger, otherwise known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when a pulley in your finger becomes too thick, which makes it tough for the tendon to glide through. Typically, farmers, industrial workers, musicians, or even smokers can get this...
Jun 15th, 2016

How Do I Know if a Surgery Center is Right for Me?
There are many things to consider when searching for the right surgery center. Everyone is different, and it is important that you pick a place that makes you feel comfortable! Here are some questions you can ask yourself before taking the...
May 22nd, 2016

Oxford Partial Knee Replacement Seminar
Dr. Berend and Dr. Lackey were invited to speak at the Zimmer Biomet seminar on the Oxford Partial Knee on June 2-3 in downtown Indianapolis. This course will feature talks by orthopedic surgeons from around the country about the 40-year history of...
May 18th, 2016

How Does a Hip Replacement Surgery Work?
If you have tried many different kinds of treatment to combat your hip pain and feel as though your journey in life is simply getting unbearable because of the aching, stiffness, and swelling, maybe it’s time you consider a hip...
May 15th, 2016

Stay Active to Prevent Joint Pain
In America, over 78.6 million (34.9%) adults are overweight or obese according to the CDC. Eric Matteson, MD, chair of the RA division at Mayo Clinic, states, “Weight plays an important role in joint stress, so when people are very...
May 4th, 2016

Knee Replacement Surgery: Is it right for me?
Here at MCJR, we understand that considering a knee replacement surgery can be an intimidating thought for some people. The best way to confirm if a joint replacement surgery is right for you involves doing some research and scheduling a pre-operative...
Apr 20th, 2016

Total Ankle Replacement
Most people think knee or hip when they think joint replacement. However, if you’re suffering from chronic ankle pain, there is a joint replacement option for you: ankle arthroplasty surgery. An ankle arthroplasty involves making an incision on the side...
Mar 28th, 2016

The Science of ACL Reconstruction
ACL injuries are all too common in athletes these days. But the fact is, of the over 150,000 annual cases, 30% of them aren’t sports related. Injury to the ACL is primarily caused by a sudden deceleration or...
Mar 16th, 2016

Identifying Osteoarthritis
Need for joint replacement can be a result of a range of different conditions, but perhaps one of the most common is Osteoarthritis. Many times referred to as Degenerative Arthritis, Osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition in the joints that is...
Feb 23rd, 2016

5 tips to relieve joint pain
5 Tips to Relieve Joint Pain Though we at MCJR specialize in joint replacement surgery, we always recommend you try these remedies first to relieve your joint pain before considering a joint replacement. Many joint pain issues can be remedied or...
Feb 2nd, 2016

Meet Physician Assistant Adam McCormick
Meet Adam McCormick Adam McCormick is the Physician Assistant for Dr. Carter. He completed his training from the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program. Adam grew up in Colorado Springs, CO, then moved to Indiana to obtain a Bachelor of...
Jan 26th, 2016

Meet Physician Assistant Lauren Stokes PA-C
Meet Lauren Stokes Lauren Stokes is a Physician Assistant who brings 8 years of orthopedic experience to MCJR. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Indiana University while competing in track and field. She then attended George...
Jan 24th, 2016

Meet Physician Assistant Kurt Kramer
Meet Kurt Kramer Kurt Kramer is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program. He has nine years of orthopedic experience and has been fortunate to work with Dr. Berend for the past five of those years. Kurt’s...
Jan 20th, 2016

Meet Physician Assistant, Kiley Hewson PA-C
Kiley Hewson PA-C is a nationally certified physician assistant, specializing in hip and knee replacements. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-med and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 2007. She then went on to complete a...
Jan 18th, 2016

Is it just joint pain?
Chronic joint pain starts just like any other ailment. You may start to notice stiffness or discomfort one day that doesn’t seem to go away. The question you might as yourself is: is it just joint pain? But what does...
Jan 17th, 2016

Preparing for Post-Operation
Preparing for Post-Operation If you or a loved one will be having a joint replacement performed, there are a few things you should know about preparing your environment before you return home: The Rest Area The area where you plan...
Jan 5th, 2016

Benefits of Stretching
As you age, your muscles tighten and your joints lose some range of motion. This can limit your lifestyle and even hinder day-to-day, normal motions. Tasks that used to be easy, such as zipping up a dress or reaching for...
Dec 15th, 2015

Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
If the cartilage damage in your knee has occurred on only one compartment of your knee, a partial knee replacement procedure may be performed. Partial knee replacement surgery involves resurfacing one portion of the knee joint and using artificial...
Dec 13th, 2015

Common Knee Problems That Lead To Joint Replacement
What Are The Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis? -Joints that are sore and ache, especially after periods of activity -Pain that develops after overuse or when joints are inactive for long periods of time -Joint swelling -Stiffness -Loss of range of motion...
Dec 1st, 2015

Meet Dr. Michael Berend
Dr. Michael Berend has always loved science and health. He studied chemistry at Hanover College, then went on to Duke University Medical Center to pursue orthopedic surgery, representing the top 10% of his medical school class. Known by his classmates...
Nov 20th, 2015

Meet Dr. Joshua Carter
Dr. Joshua Carter completed his undergraduate degree with Summa Cum Laude honors at the University of Kentucky with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He earned a full-ride scholarship to attend the UK College of Medicine, where he graduated with AOA honors....
Nov 15th, 2015

Meet Dr. Wesley Lackey
Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Dr. Wesley Lackey attended Vanderbilt University where he earned a degree in Violin Performance and also fulfilled his pre-medical requirements. Then, he attended Indiana University School of Medicine in...
Nov 15th, 2015

Direct Anterior Approach To The Hip
At MCJR, we are proud to offer the direct anterior approach (DAA) for hip replacements. The DAA to the hip is a surgical exposure that places a small incision on the front side of the hip instead of the side...
Nov 5th, 2015