Dr. Lyman's Knee Care Blog

2009-10-25T21:35:00.000-07:00

I recently received a great question from a patient online. This question comes up frequently in my clinical practice, and I thought that other patients might benefit from hearing the answer.

The question was, "Question raised in PT yesterday, re total knee & ACL reconstruct. Why does it hurt most or only at night?" This person was experiencing a very common complaint after knee surgery (or other surgeries, or other problems that cause pain--such as arthritis). The short answer is that for any given patient, there might be a variety of reasons that night pain is greater. The most common reasons, however, are two-fold:

First, during the day there are significant distractions. The lights are on, there is noise, and stimulation from a variety of sources for most people. At night, when the lights go off, the amount of distracting stimulation goes to a minimum--and the painful stimulation of an arthritic, or postoperative area of the body takes center stage. Focusing on the pain elevates the perception of pain.

The second reason pain might be greater at night is that it is the first time the the joint has been rested all day, and significant swelling may have occurred. Most of our mesenchymal tissues (parts of the body that form the musculo-skeletal system) undergo activity related microtrauma with exercise and require rest to recover and return stronger. Physical therapy is therapeutic exercise and is usually directed towards muscles that have become atrophied or injured...and it is normal for those tissues to ache after exercise.

Hope this explanation is helpful!

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman

2009-08-27T11:36:00.001-07:00

Information for patients having an ACL injury: http://bit.ly/3ZcVw2

My new sites!

2009-08-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and followers!

In the event you haven't seen it yet, my website is up and contains a lot of useful information. The web address is www.lymankneemd.com Please check it out for a lot of useful information about knee problems, injuries, and general orthopedic issues.

I also have a twitter page, www.twitter.com/KneeDoc Please take a look at this!

Have a great day, hope you are well!

focused on knee care

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman

2009-05-15T11:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday!

The third week of the new practice is finished and I am happy to report many of my old patients are finding me. It is great to have them in my office and there are lots of friendly and happy people. There have been quite a few new faces as well, and clinics have been getting busier.

For those patients, friends, and referring providers (and some of you are all three!) that have just discovered my blogspot, this is currently being used to let people know which plans I am accepting currently. Kind of boring, but necessary. As time goes on, I will use this blog to discuss knee conditions, treatment options, and announce upcoming talks and events.

Here is the lastest list of the health plans I accept. I hope you all have a great weekend, and stay out of the heat!!

Jeffrey Lyman, MD

Aetna:

- Effective date at 3/1/09.

AHCCCS:

- Effective 3/1/09.

APIPA:

- Effective – 5/1/09

AFMC:

- Effective 4/6/09.

Arizona Integrated Physicians:

- Tentative 5/1 effective date. Plans include:

- Great West: Effective 4/20/09

- Beechstreet:: Effective 4/13/09

- Galaxy Health Network: Effective 3/3/09

- USA-MCO – Effective 4/1/09

- ChoiceCare (Humana)

- LifeWise (Pulling out of Arizona – no contracts)

- Fortified (not yet effective through AIP but directly as of 4/1/09.

Beech Street:

- Effective date 4/13/09.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Tricare:

- Effective 4/6/09

Care1st:

- Tentative 5/15/09 effective date.

Cigna:

- Effective 4/23/09.

Corvel: (Through BC/BS)

- Effective 4/6/09.

Fortified:

Effective 4/1/09. Direct Contract.

Health Choice:

- 5/1/09 effective date.

Health Net:

- Effective 6/1/09

Humana:

- Projected 6/1/09 effective date.

Medicare:

- Effective 5/1/09.

Mercy Care:

- Effective 4/1/09

Multiplan/PHCS:

- 4/09/09 effective date.

RAN/AM – HMA: (Healthcare Consortium of Arizona, PC):

- 04/01/09 effective date.

Plans include: Arizona Medical Network (AMN); Rural Arizona Network (RAN); Health Management Network (HMN)

SCAN Health Plan:

- 05/01/09 effective date.

United Health Care: (Includes APIPA, Evercare, Secure Horizons and Pacificare)

- Effective May 1, 2009

University Physicians Healthcare (UPH): Plans Include: Maricopa Health Plan, Maricopa Care Advantage, University Family Care, University Physicians Care Advantage and University Physicians Healthcare Group.

- 6/1/09 effective date – confirmed.

USA/MCO:

- 4/1/09 Effective through Arizona Integrated Physicians

2009-05-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

My latest update: I now accept Healthnet insurance

Also: see the upcoming series of information on knee health and rehab.

Hope you are well...

2009-04-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and patients,

A new update to the insurance plans that I am accepting is available. Here it is:

Aetna:

- Effective date at 3/1/09.

AHCCCS:

- Effective 3/1/09.

APIPA:

- Effective – 5/1/09

AFMC:

- Effective 4/6/09.

Arizona Integrated Physicians:

- Tentative 5/1 effective date. Plans include:

- Great West

- Beechstreet:: Effective 4/13/09

- Galaxy Health Network: Effective 3/3/09

- USA-MCO – Effective 4/1/09

- ChoiceCare (Humana)

- LifeWise

- Fortified (not yet effective through AIP but directly as of 4/1/09.

Beech Street:

- Effective date 4/13/09.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Tricare:

- Effective 4/6/09

Care1st:

- Tentative 5/1/09 effective date.

Cigna:

- Mid-May tentative effective date.

Corvel: (Through BC/BS)

- Effective 4/6/09.

Coventry/First Health:

- Mid-May tentative effective date.

Evercare Products:

- Projecting an effective date of late April to mid-May.

Fortified:

Effective 4/1/09. Direct Contract.

Great West:

- Tentative 5/1/09 effective date.

Health Choice:

- 5/1/09 effective date.

Health Net:

- Projected LATE-May effective date.

Humana:

- Projected 5/1/09 effective date.

Medicare:

- Effective 5/1/09.

Mercy Care:

- Effective 4/1/09

Multiplan:

- 4/09/09 effective date.

Pacificare: (Through United)

- Effective May 1, 2009.

PHCS:

- 4/09/09 effective date.

Phoenix Health Plan:

- Projected mid-May effective date.

RAN/AM – HMA: (Healthcare Consortium of Arizona, PC):

- 04/01/09 effective date.

Plans include: Arizona Medical Network (AMN); Rural Arizona Network (RAN); Health Management Network (HMN)

SCAN Health Plan:

- 05/01/09 effective date.

United Health Care:

- Effective May 1, 2009

Hope all is well, hope to hear from you soon!

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman

2009-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Dear referring doctors, trainers, therapists, friends, and patients,

I am am happy to announce that my first clinics will be Tuesday April 28, at my Bell road office. The phone number to arrange appointments is (602) 903-1824. Please be patient with the generic answer--it is a new system soon to be upgraded. Simply hit 0 and speak with Kristi, who can help with any questions and scheduling.

Also, please see the list below of insurance plans that I am currently accepting. If you are not on one of these plans, or I am not yet taking your insurance, it is still possible to see me, but it make be at out-of-network rates. Please call to find out what we can do to make this work financially for you.

Here is the current status of my relationship with the major insurance carriers:

Aetna:

- Effective date at 3/1/09.

AHCCCS:

- Effective 3/1/09.

APIPA:

- Projecting an effective date of late April or early May.

AFMC:

- Effective 4/6/09.

Arizona Integrated Physicians:

- Tentative 5/1 effective date. Plans include:

- Great West

- Beechstreet:: Effective 4/13/09

- Galaxy Health Network: Effective 3/3/09

- USA-MCO – Effective 4/1/09

- ChoiceCare (Humana)

- LifeWise

- Fortified (not yet effective through AIP but directly as of 4/1/09.

Beech Street:

- Effective date 4/13/09.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Tricare:

- Effective 4/6/09

Care1st:

- Tentative 5/1/09 effective date.

Cigna:

- Mid-May tentative effective date.

Corvel: (Through BC/BS)

- Effective 4/6/09.

Coventry/First Health:

- Mid-May tentative effective date.

Evercare Products:

- Projecting an effective date of late April to mid-May.

Fortified:

Effective 4/1/09. Direct Contract.

Great West:

- Tentative 5/1/09 effective date.

Health Choice:

- 5/1/09 effective date.

Health Net:

- Projected mid-May effective date.

Humana:

- Projected 5/1/09 effective date.

Medicare:

- Projected mid-May effective date.

Multiplan:

- 4/09/09 effective date.

Pacificare: (Through United)

- Projecting an effective date of late April or early May.

PHCS:

- 4/09/09 effective date.

Phoenix Health Plan:

- Projected mid-May effective date.

RAN/AM – HMA: (Healthcare Consortium of Arizona, PC):

- 04/01/09 effective date.

Plans include: Arizona Medical Network (AMN); Rural Arizona Network (RAN); Health Management Network (HMN)

SCAN Health Plan:

- 05/01/09 effective date.

United Health Care:

- Projecting an effective date of late April or early May.

Hope this letter finds you in good health!

Regards,

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman

New Developments

2009-04-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have some updates to any patients and friends awaiting my services. My new office phone number should be available next week. The number will be 602-903-1824. I am working as quickly as possible on my web site and I have a team of credentialers working on my insurance plans...so please stay tuned.

The list of insurance plans I am currently able to accept should be available by Friday.

Please stay tuned

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman

For my patients waiting my availability

2009-03-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

To all my friends, patients, and colleagues:

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the huge number of patients who have emailed me about wanting to continue to see me after my departure from the CORE Institute. I will be using this blog initially to keep everyone updated about the launch of my new office. Once open, I'll change the blog to discuss common medical knee problems.

Please stay posted. I am working quickly to get the logistics of the office organized. I anticipate a opening day in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeffrey Lyman