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Dr. Paul Eliot Hughes, MD

Orthopedist | Adult Reconstructive Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Paul Hughes is an orthopaedic surgeon practicing in San Mateo, CA. Dr. Hughes specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, diseases and disorders of the bodys musculoskeletal system. As an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Hughes tends to bones, ligaments, muscles, joints, nerves and tendons. Orthopaedic surgeons can specialize in certain areas like the hand, spine, hip, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow or the knee.
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Dr. Paul Eliot Hughes, MD
  • San Mateo, CA
  • UCLA
  • Accepting new patients

How do you fix a herniated disc?

There is possibilities now of injecting herniated disc or even degenerative disc with stem cells that can possibly regenerate the disc.

Can chiropractic care help with sports injuries?

A chiropractor can help with possible soft tissue swelling, and some modalities for pain control. If the injury is severe injections of plasma or injections of other substances READ MORE
A chiropractor can help with possible soft tissue swelling, and some modalities for pain control. If the injury is severe injections of plasma or injections of other substances may be needed to help heal you, which a chiropractor cannot do.

How do you fix torn ankle ligament?

Most torn ligaments of the ankle can recover fine without surgery. If you're continuing to have instability of your ankle, there are surgeries that can repair or reconstruct the READ MORE
Most torn ligaments of the ankle can recover fine without surgery. If you're continuing to have instability of your ankle, there are surgeries that can repair or reconstruct the ankle ligaments. This surgery does take time to recover from but does have a high success rate.

Can topical medications help swollen ankle?

Yes, this can give you local anti inflammatory effect. Rest ice compression and elevation is the best treatment for an ankle, sprain or swelling.

Medication after surgery

The medication sound appropriate unfortunately sometimes the pain breaks through the drugs. The best thing to do is take an anti-inflammatory rest, and the pain will subsided sometime READ MORE
The medication sound appropriate unfortunately sometimes the pain breaks through the drugs. The best thing to do is take an anti-inflammatory rest, and the pain will subsided sometime soon.

What is the treatment for broken foot toe?

Most toe fractures do not need surgery and heal on their own. Though an x-ray and reviewed by an expert may be needed to determine the absolute treatment plan. The metatarsal's READ MORE
Most toe fractures do not need surgery and heal on their own. Though an x-ray and reviewed by an expert may be needed to determine the absolute treatment plan. The metatarsal's are more likely to be requiring surgery than the toe bones.

What exercises are good for a disc hernia?

Strengthening your core, which helps support the spine is the best treatment for any disc pathology or arthritis at the back

Will ice help my ankle injury?

RICE is the abbreviation for rest, ice compression and elevation, which is the best treatment for an ankle sprain or ankle pain

Can I go to the gym with a disc hernia?

Yes, but be careful and do not aggravate the injury. Strengthen your core can be very helpful for disc pathology.

What to avoid with ankle arthritis?

Keeping ones weight as low as possible, helps prevent arthritis in the knees and ankles. There are treatments that include stem cell injections into the ankle joint, which can READ MORE
Keeping ones weight as low as possible, helps prevent arthritis in the knees and ankles. There are treatments that include stem cell injections into the ankle joint, which can potentially heal already arthritic ankle joints. This would require consultation and consideration, and the source of the cells usually would be bone marrow

How long does an ankle ligament injury take to heal?

Sometimes the ankle ligaments do not heal, but typically an ankle sprain should be recovered by 6 to 12 weeks

Do I need an x-ray for a sprained ankle?

Not always, but sprayed ankles can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a fracture, which can only be seen on an x-ray

Will I be able to run after ankle replacement surgery?

No best way to ruin the replacement is to run on it

Can hammertoe be fixed with surgery?

Yes, podiatrist do this all the time

Can heel spur be fixed with massage?

The spur will not be removed or changed with massage, but the soft tissue could be stretched so that it doesn't bother you as much

How long should I rest a sprained ankle?

If you cannot walk after an ankle injury is best to be evaluated by a professional for an x-ray and possibly an MRI but typically an ankle sprain mild will resolve in 4 to 6 weeks READ MORE
If you cannot walk after an ankle injury is best to be evaluated by a professional for an x-ray and possibly an MRI but typically an ankle sprain mild will resolve in 4 to 6 weeks

How long do you stay in the hospital with a fractured hip?

This can vary based on the treatment, but typically people leave the hospital 2 to 3 days after hip fixation surgery

Can running cause heel pain?

Yes, running and not being active on your feet can cause plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis which is the typical heel pain

Can ankle ligament injury heal itself?

Yes, scar tissue can form a healing of an ankle ligament tear

Can arthritis be fixed?

The only way to reverse arthritis is to provide cellular healing of the joint, which may grow new cartilage which would require cells to be injected in the joint or possible cartilage READ MORE
The only way to reverse arthritis is to provide cellular healing of the joint, which may grow new cartilage which would require cells to be injected in the joint or possible cartilage graphs to be inserted surgically. I prefer a bone marrow aspirate concentrate as a great treatment for arthritis, particularly of the knee