Struggling to get a good night’s sleep with your CPAP? Learn how Inspire might be able to help during an educational community seminar presented by Dr. Ron Hanson on Tuesday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m.
Inspire is the only FDA-approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment that works inside your body to treat the root cause of sleep apnea with just the click of a button. No mask, no hose, just sleep.
Learn more at our educational event and get relief with inspire!
Presented by:
Dr. Ron Hanson or St. Cloud Surgical Center and St. Cloud Ear, Nose, & Throat Clinic
As a board-certified podiatrist, Dr. James Renier’s goal is to keep people on their feet and maintain a healthy lifestyle!
With his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in one hand, and a signed contract to work at Abbott Northwestern in the other, Dr. James Renier was well on his way to becoming a highly sought-after Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Yet, after working closely with some of the best cardio docs in the country With his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in one hand, and a signed contract to work at Abbott Northwestern in the other, Dr. James Renier was well on his way to becoming a highly sought-after Cardiothoracic Surgeon. During his training, he was introduced to podiatry and realized he had a passion for helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle and keeping them on their feet. Years later, Dr. Reiner is a board-certified podiatrist at St. Cloud Surgical Center and enjoys the work/life balance the specialty of podiatry allows.
As we learned before, the inner workings of your foot and ankle are very complex. Each foot is comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provide support, balance, and mobility. For the mechanism to work correctly, all of these pieces must work seamlessly together; even the slightest disruption to the foot mechanism can cause extreme pain. Perhaps, the most common disruption we see is when the forces of the tendon on the top and bottom of the toe don’t line up, causing a hammertoe.
While the name “hammertoe” can seem alarming, these are quite common and a large part of what
Dr. Renier and the rest of the foot and ankle team at St. Cloud Surgical Center treat nearly daily. According to Dr. Renier, roughly 15 out of 20 patients per day see him for some component of hammertoes and foot deformity. Primarily, the cause for hammertoes has to do with the patient’s biomechanics and is not always avoidable as we age. For example, a low or a high arched foot can be more susceptible to hammertoes because the tendons cause an imbalance that causes their toes to bend in a very uncomfortable way.
If you are struggling with a hammertoe, there is hope for correction. Dr. Renier firmly believes that less is more and assesses every situation on a case-by-case basis. In most cases, he prefers to weigh conservative options before jumping to surgery. These options could include the following:
Orthotics, wider shoe wear modifications
Corn & Calluses Shields, silicone, fabric, etc.
In-office procedures like Flexor Tenotomies
Some Physical Therapies
However, sometimes conservative methods will not alleviate the pain from hammertoes, and surgery is necessary. You may be a strong candidate for surgery if you’re experiencing one or more of the following symptoms that have gone uncorrected following conservative measures:
An abnormal bend in the joints of your toe
Corns or calluses
Bone pain, Metatarsalgia
Tears in the joint capsules due to force
Additional foot deformities are present
If you need surgery for a hammertoe or another foot deformity, you can expect to experience some downtime after surgery. For the first 3 to 5 days post-op, patients are required to be non-weight bearing. Since procedures at St. Cloud Surgical Center are all outpatient, you’ll want to ensure you have someone by your side to help you with your day-to-day routine! After that short time, patients will switch to a medical walking boot for the rest of their recovery. Dr. Renier says most of his patients are back up and running in about 6 weeks.
While the recovery time is not short, the result of straighter toes, walking without pain, and returning to your favorite footwear is undoubtedly a win for patients!
Ahh, yes, you have reached the age of your first colonoscopy, and you’re a little nervous. Don’t worry; you’re in great hands! Our Gastroenterologists are some of the best in business, and our team will do everything possible to make you feel comfortable. First, we’ll prepare you for your procedure and ensure you have all the correct information. So, instead of turning to Google to bust all the myths, turn to the pros at St. Cloud Surgical Center.
MYTH #1 – Colonoscopy Prep Drink Is Gross To Drink
Years ago, maybe, but today’s colonoscopy prep solution can be mixed into your favorite sports drink, clear soda, or juice, so it tastes better! We typically recommend Gatorade ZERO or Powerade ZERO to limit your daily sugar intake.
MYTH #2 – Colonoscopy Prep Takes Forever
Prepping your body for a colonoscopy can be done in less than 24 hours. You will begin your prep the afternoon before your procedure or as otherwise specified by your doctor. For most people, it takes 12 to 16 hours to clear out their bowels. While this may seem like a lifetime at the moment, it’s a relatively short window!
MYTH #3 – It’s Going To Hurt
While the thought doesn’t sound pleasant, you won’t feel a thing! Let’s walk you through it. First, your doctor will give you a sedative to make you more comfortable. Once sedated, a lighted scope is inserted in the rear, and the doctor will complete their investigation. Most patients don’t remember anything!
MYTH #4 – I Don’t Need A Colonoscopy Until I Have Cancer Symptoms
Not just a myth, this is a dangerously false claim! Most pre-cancers are found in people who don’t have pain or symptoms. Symptoms can mean the cancer is more advanced and harder to treat. By getting a colonoscopy, you can reduce your likelihood of Colorectal Cancer by more than 50%!
MYTH #5 – Getting A Colonoscopy Is Humiliating
While thinking or talking about a colonoscopy might be unpleasant, you can expect a private and respectful experience. From pre-procedure to post-op, the care team at St. Cloud Surgical Center will make you as comfortable as possible!
MYTH #6 – I Can’t Afford To Get Screened
On average, you only need a colonoscopy every 10 years starting at the age of 50. Most people only need three colonoscopies in their lifetime. If you are worried about cost, contact your insurance to see what is covered.
While a colonoscopy isn’t a walk in the park, it could save your life. If you are 50 years of age or older, you can schedule your screening colonoscopy at our center without a referral. Learn more about the importance of colonoscopies or schedule a screen request here.
On August 10th, 2022, we gathered with community members and staff – new and old – to celebrate 50 years of St. Cloud Surgical Center!
In a town filled with many different healthcare options to choose from, we are proud to have made it to such a momentous occasion. When Dr. Joseph Belshe first opened the doors of St. Cloud Surgical Center in 1972, the dream was to give Central Minnesota a safe, welcoming space that offered affordable surgery. Fifty years later, we’re still bringing his dream to life!
As the second ambulatory surgical center in the United States, we have always had big shoes to fill. With many dedicated team members throughout our tenure, we have created the St. Cloud Surgical Center you know and love today. To show our appreciation for the community that has been so welcoming to us and the staff who gives more than we could ask, we threw a large celebration at our newly renovated facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Here are some of the highlights from the night!
Founder Dr. Joseph Belshe and his wife, Mary, traveled all the way from Florida to be with us! To see Dr. Belshe, who will be 102 in January, at our 50th anniversary was a dream come true. Without his vision and leadership, St. Cloud Surgical Center would not be the facility it is today. THANK YOU, Dr. Belshe!
“Celebrating 50 years in this community, caring for patients was a huge milestone for us! The evening of our party was an amazing experience, seeing our founding physician at 101 years old co-mingling with retired physicians and staff who helped build the center to what it is today, alongside current physicians and staff who are keeping the legacy of the center alive and moving forward. It was a family reunion of sorts with the new people celebrating with the founding fathers. There was a lot of joy and celebration in the air that night.” – Darci Nagorski, CEO, St. Cloud Surgical Center (pictured below in white)
We kicked off the event with community members from the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce! A big thank you to everyone who came out to tour our space, eat yummy food from Food Ecstacy, and mingle with familiar faces. We are beyond proud to serve the Greater St. Cloud community!
In the second half of the night, physicians and staff, both past and present, flooded our parking lot with their families to share stories and express their gratitude to Dr. Belshe. For some, it was like seeing an old friend, but for many, seeing him in person was an experience they had only dreamed about.
Everyone in attendance was invited to partake in a tour of our newly remodeled facility. If you missed out, read all about it here! The tour included stops at the VELYS and Stryker ORs, patient admitting rooms, sterile processing department, and the staff favorite, our breakroom.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Jupiter Moon! Check out those cute faces enjoying a sweet nightcap.
Lastly, a special thank you to all of our amazing vendors! We couldn’t have put on this incredible event without you:Lastly, a special thank you to all of our amazing vendors! We couldn’t have put on this incredible event without you:
Design Electric | DePuy / J&J – VELYS Robotics | El-Jay Plumbing | Food Ecstasy | Gaslight Creative | Image Builders | Inspire Therapy | Joel & Jack Hagberg, Musicians | Jupiter Moon Ice Cream | Kaeding Architecture | KW Photography | Lazer Flooring | Mortenson Construction | St. Cloud Surgical Center Physicians |St. Cloud Surgical Center Teammates | Stryker – MAKO Robotics | Sunray Printing | Von Hanson’s Catering | Westside Liquor …and all others not listed who have contributed to our recent remodel projects and success of our facility over the years!
