Welcome to Parkview Orthopedics

Arthritis

Think of your joints as the hinges on your front door. With people coming in and out all day, slamming the door, eventually those hinges start to creak a little each time they’re used, or maybe some of their screws aren’t as tight as they should be.

It’s the same with your joints, the places where cartilage and ligaments help cushion the bones from rubbing against each other when they connect, and your bones, which protect your innards from injury. Your bones are constantly changing, breaking down old bone and building new bone, and, from time to time, they need a little TLC to keep doing their job.

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Sports Injuries

If you’ve been scared off from trying new fitness activities by your friends’ tales of woe about post-workout pain and soreness, get that exercise gear back out of the closet

The key to expanding—or beginning—an exercise program or sports activities without hurting yourself is knowing how much and what to do. Many sports injuries can be prevented with proper training and preparation, and those that do occur can be minimized with prompt and appropriate treatment.

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Bone Health

How to strengthen your bones at any age

As a woman, your odds of suffering a bone injury are greater than a man’s at every point in your life. The good news is that bones can be strengthened and the risk of breakage alleviated, even after menopause. It’s a matter of good nutrition, exercise, giving up a few bad habits and sometimes just plain old common sense.

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Joint Replacement

Faster, easier options for joint replacement

Hip, knee and shoulder replacements just aren’t what they used to be—thankfully.

Today’s improved joint replacements require shorter hospital stays and recovery times. As a result, these surgeries are more often a first choice for those with active lives rather than a last-resort option for the severely disabled. And joint replacement patients are getting younger: A decade ago patients were more likely to be in their 60s or older, but surgeons now mostly treat patients who are age 50 and older.

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Our Ortho Doctors

Jennfier FitzPatrick, MD

Dr. FitzPatrick Specialties: Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

“I've always had a calling for medicine, but my path towards orthopedics began as an athlete and patient. Ultimately, I had surgery that helped me return to my senior year of college athletics. That experience is my driving motivation to understand and have greater compassion with my patients."

Rickland Likes, DO

Dr. Likes Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Rickland Likes, a Colorado native, received his medical education from the University of New England, followed by an internship and orthopedic residency at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, learning the latest techniques in joint replacement, fracture care, and minimally invasive surgery.

Lucas King, MD

Specialties: Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Dr. Lucas King is a sports fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in the care of athletes at the high school, collegiate and professional level as well as weekend warriors. Dr. King provides a wide range of orthopedic care and specializes in disorders of the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee, performing minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. He also performs joint replacement for arthritis. Dr. King serves as a team physician for CSU-Pueblo athletics.

Mark Porter, MD

Dr. Porter Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Mark Porter, a 16-year U.S. military veteran, came to Pueblo after his most recent station at Evans Army Community Hospital in Fort Carson, CO. Dr. Porter began his military career in the Coast Guard before pursuing his undergraduate degree at U.C. Davis and his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. Dr. Porter completed his residency in the Orthopedic Surgery Program at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Texas Tech University in El Paso, TX.

Robert Thomas, MD

Dr. Thomas Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Robert Thomas came to Pueblo with more than 25 years of orthopedic experience. Dr. Thomas began his medical career as a physical therapist, providing him an experienced start to medical school at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by orthopedic residency at Albany Medical Center.