Dr. Walker A. Wynkoop M.D.

Orthopedist

2730 Pierce St, Suite 300 Sioux City Iowa, 51104 Show map

Write A Review

About
Contacts & Locations

About

Orthopedic Surgeon, with special intererst in Hand and wrist surgery.

Education and Training

Loyola University

Board Certification

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery- Orthopedic Surgery

Provider Details

Male English 39 years of experience

Dr. Walker A. Wynkoop M.D.

Dr. Walker A. Wynkoop M.D.'s Expert Contributions

My Answers

When can I exercise after spine surgery?
It is only up to your surgeon. Why are you asking something so important like that on line? If you don=E2=80=99t remember receiving verbal and written instructions = READ MORE
What is the best treatment for carpal tunnel?
NSAID like Ibuprofen, I like 600 mg nightly or up to 4 times a day if needed. Then if still needed, Velcro Wrist cock-up splints from the drug store worn at night to stop night time waking If you are being awakened once a week or more, consider surgery. Find someone that does a mini incision technique and lets you go back to desk work in 3 to 6 days. Heavy work needs up to 6 or more weeks depending on type of work. READ MORE
Unable to walk or bare weight on my legs
I assume your infection in your left Total Knee.I had a similar patient like you once and during a hospitalization wirer IV antibiotics weren't helping, I offered AKA, Above the knee amputation. Several days later after many talks with her daughter who was an RN, she reluctantly accepted. Within a few days she felt much better as the infection was ruining her overall health and the BKA removed all the infection. And she was thanking me. Prosthetic technology has advanced so much that it is a good option if there is no Saving your leg. The Gun Smoke scene: Doc, Ya gotta save my leg no longer applies in every case. READ MORE
Sprained wrist?
Probable schapho-Lunate ligament full tear. Start by having your primary doc order a new wrist X-ray that includes a scaphoid view. Then go see an orthopedic hand surgeon with all your X-rays on a CD from the X-ray department. READ MORE
Can I take off the boot?
Yes, certainly. Then take a shower. If the stitches are still in you should call your surgeon and ask if they need to come out. Let your skin breathe! Don't walk on it without the boot until your surgeon says it's okay. READ MORE
Shoulder pain?
Sounds like overuse rotator cuff problems. Probably a partial or full tear. You must see in orthopedic surgeon and get an MRI. Choose an orthopedic surgeon that does a lot of sports medicine. Even find one That has completed a sports-medicine fellowship Thank you! WAW READ MORE
Broken finger treatment?
BPC 157 combined with TB 500 will only use your money and not help heal. Google peer-reviewed research on these and read it before you spend your money. Yes, splinting with no movement will increase stiffness. YOU MUST FULLY MOVE THE BIG KNUCKLE AT THE BASE OF YOUR FINGER - THE METACARPAL PHALANGEAL JOINT. THEN, almost as important, move the small joint in the middle of your finger, the proximal interphalangeal joint. You can move these joints EVEN IF IT HURTS BECAUSE YOU ARE STRETCHING OUT SCAR and the 3rd repetition will hurt less because the scar is stretched a little! Take Ibuprofen 200 mg up to 3 tabs if your kidneys are good and no stomach/heart burn, etc. Plus Tylenol to help with the pain. Less important is the joint near your broken bone. Move that one as well, but more gently because you may slow down the fracture healing, which is not too much of a problem because that bone is small. READ MORE
Do bone spurs have to be surgically removed?
Nope. And that is an unusual reason for wrist pain. If you can use your wrist for everything you want to do as long as you can put up with a little pain, I recommend against any surgery for a spur AND see an orthopedic hand/wrist specialist before any final decisions. READ MORE
My wrist has a weird shape?
You likely broke a bone or tore a ligament. Please see your doc and get an exam and an X-ray. IF A JOINT OR MUSCLE INJURY IS NOT MORE THAN HALF BETTER IN 7 DAYS,GO TO YOUR DOC! I had to do a SALVAGE procedure on an 18-year-old who had a wrist injury that was neglected. He will never be able to use his wrist fully again. How is your wrist function? WAW READ MORE
Is a knee brace considered an orthotic?
Yes! READ MORE
What exercise is good for ankle pain?
STAND ON ONE FOOT! A simple and very effective exercise that is very helpful as it can be done "All Day Long!" Our normal ankle use is all day long, so an exercise you can do for 30 sec to 2+ minutes anytime you want is ideal. READ MORE
What are the differences between a herniated disc, protrusion, and disc bulge?
The main thing is you're doing great so no reason to worry. The military will require an orthopedic consultation that clears you for active duty. I was a military doc and I also cleared enlistees after I got out. If the Ortho consultant starts talking MRI or CT or an FCE (Functional Capacity Exam), politely ask why and can you just examine me and skip some or all of those tests? If not, Find another Orthopod that is willing to examine you and listen to your history of no dysfunction and no pain for 3 years. If the second gal says the same, then maybe you're stuck. You might try calling the Orthopods office first and asking if they are familiar with doing active duty clearance consultations and can they be done without an FCE or MRI? The radiologist that used the term "herniation/protrusion" was doing CYA, or CHA, covering her ass. The MRI you included do not usually show the disk changes you mentioned, Check the axial cuts for that. T or Thoracic disk herniations can almost never an issue. Are you sure this is without a typo? "History of uncorrected nucleus pulposus associated with any treatment, symptoms, or activity limitations." It seems a term for herniated or displaced is missing. Hope the helps. READ MORE
What doctor should I see for ankle pain?
Here is the rule I teach everyone: Start with your primary care doc, but if the pain is not mostly better by 10 or 14 days, then seek out an Orthopedic Surgeon or an orthopedic nurse practitioner Thank you! WAW READ MORE
Is foot surgery dangerous?
Ankle and foot surgery is different. All surgeries have risks and benefits. Talk to your surgeon and your family doc about the risks. Some patient and surgery combinations are very risky, like an ankle replacement and a diabetic patient, or an ankle fusion and a smoker. READ MORE
Can you change your leg cast?
Yes, if you can find a bone doc that will see you. Start with a local ortho surgeon that has already seen you. If no luck, you can always go to the local emergency room and they will have the bone doc come in and see you OR will get you an appointment. Docs covering the emergency department have a responsibility to see patients that show up, even if they don't want to. READ MORE
How do you know if your foot is dislocated?
If it is dislocated, it will be very swollen, like 50% bigger, very painful like you cannot stand or walk on it. A sprain or small fracture is much more likely. If it's much better in 5-7 days, do nothing. If not, go see a doc or nurse. READ MORE
Are you awake for foot surgery?
That is up to you and your surgeon. Ask questions. Most people are sleepy and remember a little because they get a spinal anesthetic. Some want to be very awake like I did for my knee surgery. READ MORE
When do most people stop growing?
I actually grew until I was 20 or 21. Female stop growing about two years after their period starts. GOOD LUCK! READ MORE
Is the popping sound in my left hip caused possibly from sitting down too much?
It is most likely greater trochanteric bursitis. Yes, sitting can make it happen. Look up stretching exercises for this. It will not make your hip "lock." WAW READ MORE
Is knee surgery advisable for a person who is 78 years old?
It depends on the type of surgery. A large surgery with a long recovery period is not usually offered to someone described like your father. Smaller surgeries are: total knee replacement, usually, no; knee arthroscopy (called a knee scope), usually, yes. Your dad's family doctor is in a good position to help answer this question, I suggest you attend a visit. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Hand and Knee Surgery

Treatments

Ankle Replacement
Foot & Ankle Deformity Correction
Minimally Invasive Surgery

Articles and Publications

ePoster: Patient Comprehension of Surgical COnsent Language, ISAKOS May 12-16 Toronto Canada
Podium Presentation: Scaphoid Nonunion Three Screw Internal Fixation, International Federation for Surgery of the Hand, Delhi India, March 4-8.