My goal for the Real House MD is to help you get healthier so you can prevent orthopedic surgery wherever possible. For each of us, having less surgery in our lifetime has physical, mental, social, and financial benefits.

At some point you may experience enough pain and stiffness to consider lifestyle changes you can make to improve your health. When you get to this point, my recommendation is to start by removing sugar and processed carbohydrates from your diet. Sugar increases chronic inflammation and makes any tissue damage more painful. Processed carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereal are immediately converted into sugar by your body and can trigger inflammatory processes. 

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States with 36 million people of all ages playing. As an orthopedic surgeon, I am frequently asked if I am seeing an abundance of pickleball injuries. 

I was recently asked “How do you get more energy” The answer is simple. You already have all the energy you need.  The First law of Thermodynamics is the guiding principle of the universe. Energy can neither be created or destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another. So how do you convert your existing energy to beneficial energy so you can feel energized? 

If you read Part 2: My Carnivore Diet Experience and Results, you’ll know that the results we achieved on the diet were great. In today’s blog, I will be diving more into the results we experienced, adverse effects, weight loss, whether it’s truly a sustainable diet, and what to consider if you’re interested in trying the carnivore diet out. I’ll also be sharing who out of the “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” won the competition aspect of this challenge!

I shared in My Introduction to the Carnivore Diet that my goal with trying the carnivore diet was to investigate whether me and my friends felt better on the diet and whether it was doable. I didn’t have the resources to do a large case control study that eliminated co-factors and was unbiased so I decided it would be an anecdotal study.

A few months ago I roped in a dozen of my friends to try the carnivore diet. Before I dive into the results, I need to go back to the beginning. It was a dark and stormy night…..Just kidding!

Chronic Inflammation is on the rise in recent generations and is the most common reason people come to see me for treatment as an orthopedic surgeon. It is also the top reason patients ultimately need surgery. 

As the weather warms and spring moves into summer, a new chapter for physical fitness begins. For young athletes it’s a sign that playoffs for spring sports are on the horizon and it’s time to begin working towards future goals. For older people this may be the time to work on improving your fitness or even start working out for the first time.

“Growth mindset” was conceived by Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck, and has become a popular term in psychology, teaching, coaching, and parenting. People who have adopted a growth mindset believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through hard work and practice.

I am a curious orthopedic surgeon especially when I see some patients who are signing up for a surgical replacement or reconstruction while others remain active and unaware of their joint destruction. Why is this happening?

In his book Sapiens Yuval Noah Harari gives a brilliant explanation of man’s prehistory. Current evidence suggests that our species evolved in Africa 2.5 million years ago. Our ancestors lived in small groups, surviving as hunters and gatherers. They gathered plants, seeds, and nuts, occasionally hunting for lean meats. These early humans were strong, healthy, and intelligent, largely free from the diseases of modern life.

Youth sports have the potential to become a major part of a young person's life. When you factor in the time, effort, emotions, injuries, and money involved with the knowledge that only a select few will ever reach the pinnacle of success, it’s natural to ask, “What’s it all for?”

When it comes to youth sports there’s always an elephant in the room, and that’s finances. Most of my advice centered around youth sports and encouraging lifetime fitness requires money. Income inequality is a common topic in politics, and it can lead to healthcare inequality.

Observations from 50 years of playing, coaching, parenting, and doctoring in youth sports