You might know Craig Russell from TV. He's the "English Contractor" featured on HGTV's Urban Oasis 2018—the man with the English accent and fun personality.

When Craig was at a job site here in Cincinnati, he jumped off the back of a pickup truck and twisted his knee. 

"At first, it felt fine, but after a couple days, my knee swelled up. It was stiff, and I felt a hard burning sensation like somebody stabbed me in the back of the knee," remembers Craig. "I had quite a lot of inflammation."

Since Craig is a custom home builder, runs a remodeling company, and needs to work during the day, he preferred not to go to an emergency department or urgent care if he didn't have to. Instead, he searched the internet and found The Christ Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine After-Hours Clinic. It's located at the hospital's main campus in Mt. Auburn and is one of the only orthopedic after-hours clinics open Monday through Friday from 5-9 p.m.

"We offer the After-Hours Clinic because many sports injuries and orthopedic issues don't happen at convenient times during regularly scheduled office hours," says Marc Schneider, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with The Christ Hospital Physicians - Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team. "As a solution, we offer specialized orthopedic staff who can address your injuries in the evening. There's no need to miss work or wait long hours in the regular urgent care with people who may be sick."

Seeking convenient pain relief at The Christ Hospital After-Hours Clinic
To get relief for his injured knee, Craig went to the After-Hours Clinic at about 7:30 p.m. on a weeknight. Right away, he received X-rays to rule out a fracture.

Erinn Meece, PA-C, a physician assistant who specializes in orthopedic care, performed Craig's initial evaluation.

"As soon as I walked in, I could see Craig's knee was pretty swollen. I asked about his symptoms and how the injury happened to determine the best next steps," explains Erinn. "We also have athletic trainers here who help evaluate patients. Depending on the patient's injury, we may recommend medication, icing, injections, physical therapy or additional imaging."

Erinn and her team at the After-Hours Clinic helped Craig schedule an MRI and a follow-up appointment with Dr. Schneider.

"We make it as convenient as possible for the patient to get that initial evaluation and to make sure they have good comprehensive follow-up," says Dr. Schneider. "When they leave the clinic, they're already lined up with an orthopedic specialist."

Fortunately, Craig did not need knee surgery. His MRI showed damage to the cartilage, "but nothing too crazy," as Craig says. He had probably exacerbated an old injury.

The prescription: rest the knee for several weeks, ice the knee, and wear a compression device.

"If I do get persistent pain, I can go back, and Dr. Schneider will explore other solutions for me," says Craig. "I've built a connection with a specialist."

Convenience and peace of mind
Craig felt his knee care was both convenient and compassionate.

"Erinn was fantastic, attentive and super professional," says Craig.

"We understand that injuries are frustrating. We try to stop and put ourselves in the patients' shoes. That makes us better providers," says Erinn.

Dr. Schneider agrees, "Absolutely. Patients are worried. Are they going to miss work? Can they exercise? Play sports? They want to get back to their regular enjoyment of life as soon as possible. And that's our goal for them."

As for Craig, his knee feels much better now, and he's actively living his real-life role as the "English Contractor."

"The After-Hours Clinic makes sense," says Craig. "Rather than sitting in the ER, you see the right person straightaway."

What injuries are treated at the Orthopedic After-Hours Clinic?
At The Christ Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine After-Hours Clinic, you get a professional evaluation for a wide variety of issues, including:

• Back injuries
• Bone fractures
• Bumps and bruises
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Knee injuries
• Muscle pulls
• Neck injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Sports injuries
  

Learn how you might benefit from the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine After-Hours Clinic at The Christ Hospital.