Dr. Kenneth Merriman
Orthopedic Surgery
Hastings, MI
48 years experience male
Locations
Office
Hastings, MI
Hastings Orthopedic Clinic
Hastings, MI
About
Bio
I am a 64+ year old general orthopedist in practice in the same small city for ~35 years 2 grown daughters and 1 wife who is an exercise instructor ( usually after me to be better about it) and 2 grand daughters Finley almost 3 and Audrey who will be 6 next week As far as practice I do a moderate number of total joints (hips and knees with occasional shoulder) and wht ever else that comes along that I feel is within my abilities it is really the general practice of orthopedics i have a significant interest in vitamin D metabolism / biologic orthopedics( meaning platlet rich plasma use and the growing potential for auto derived stem cells) / nonunions and complex fractures / foot and ankle surgery/ geriatric orthopedics osteoporosis For the last 25 years or so I have done some "ring doctoring" for amateur MMA (mixed martial arts) some of you might know it as cage fighting or no holds bared fighting I did some Judo many years ago which is where my interest comes from. With all the fun changes facing the practice of medicine and orthopedics I keep thinking of chucking it in and retiring BUT I still really like dealing with patients on a day to day basis and find most of the problem solving part of it to be a good and interesting challenge so for now I WILL KEEP AT IT
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthopedic Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
445 Answers
371 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 44-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Calcium in cartilage: Chondrocalcinosis is calcium forming in the cartilage it is seen on xray as fuzzy density in the joint space
it can be associated with pseudo gout.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Suprise suprise : You smashed you knee and now it hurts
that is kind of to be expected
maybe torn meniscus
probably need to go get it checked out by an orthopedic... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Probably family doc: Discuss with your primary care doctor if she/he is not responsive then seek out someone with an interest in nutrition.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
? MRI: Mri might be useful but not for sure
and they are expensive
not all surgeries lead to a marked reduction in pain / were their other issues in the ... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Many ways: Usually caused by over use in face of mild equinas defromity
try walking backwards/ change workout activity/ wear a dorsiflexion nite splint /wrap ... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Common complaint: This is a common complaint of people with early degenerative joint disease and/or internal derangements such as meniscal tears or chondromalacia
keep... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Irritation : This is the bodies way of trying (unsuccessfully 0 to deal with the irritation of one kind or another in the joint.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Probably: What you relate is not uncommon
please discuss with your surgeon.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Depends: Probably about 3 months or so.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Maybe: Some people can run forever without problems others not so much
if the knee is good to begin with then running ok if not pick something with less ... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Find a surgeon: You would need to see an orthopedic surgeon who would arrange this /you would need to be medically evaluated as to you general health and ability t... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
? ibugesic: Not sure what ibugesic is but probably Ibuprofen mixed with something else
your symptoms sound pretty benign may continue with some ibufrofen
try ... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Sorry : Generally speaking these types of problems are a lifetime thing and require a certain level of medical attention
certainly the level of symptoms wi... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Tear of meniscus: Sounds like a torn meniscus probably medial
if pain persists you will need to see an orthopedic surgeon.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
No smoking: Smoking slows healing
take vit d ~ 1000 iu per each 25# body wt per day
and do as you are told by your surgeon
elevate the arm most of the t... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: That is a good question with out a good answer
i doubt that there is any good "evidence based" studies to support that treatment
or any particu... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Not really: Take vit d and be patient
there is no magic road to a fast cure.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Yes and yes : But xrays and other tests can be very helpful.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Yes: Yes of course you need both but do not over do it.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Takes much time: Nitroglycerine rx for tendonopathy is something that i know little about when I have used it in the past and known of others that have used it gener... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Maybe: ? What treatment
if you are worsening the please discuss with your treating doctor promptly.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Tigth muscles : The anxiety tightens up the muscles which causes most of the other symptoms/
also breathing to much or to little may contribute.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
?what kind of bite: You should seek medical attention immediately
if it is a human bite it is potentially worse but what you relate sounds like a serious infection and t... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Good ?: Certainly prp is the new kid on the block and generally speaking there is not too much hard data out there but some is accumulating as to prolotherapy... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
D2 not so good : I do not recommend d2 supplementation
it by rx only and at 50, 000 iu
but it is less effective than d3
shoot for a d3 level of >50 <100
recommen... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 65-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Bit non specific : Yes it is for some people.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Many things: Kind of nonspecific but could be a inched nerve in back or knee arthritis with distally radiating pain
if it persists please go see a doctor.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Yes: Should not be a problem.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: I would not know what to tell you about this but you may try to use otc melatonin and /or l-tryptophane before bed time to see if that might help... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Xray : If it looks really crooked then it is probably broken
to be sure an xray is a good thing
some fractures can be quite subtle and xray does not alwa... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Yes it could: Shoulder pain can radiate up into the neck sometimes.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: Why can't you take opoids(there are many different kinds)
you need to discuss this with your surgeon asap.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Yes : Now you can add cervical to thoracic and lumbar.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: I would doubt that doxicycline is the cuase of the leg cramps
recently though doxicycline which for years has been a very inexpensive generic drug... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Not good: That is kind of unusual
how did this happen?
Unlikely to get better on it's own unfortunately I am not so sure any treatment will help either.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
You do not: Only fix fro that is surgical.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Individual: Each person is quite different in how they react to essentially all drugs.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
?: There is no specific # but bmi over 40 or certainly over 50 makes it a great deal harder to do
also risk tends to go up with increased weight.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Not scoliosis: Some sort of urinary tract problem
maybe infection or spontaneous bleeding or a stone
see a doctor promptly!
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Where do you live?: 100iu/25# body wt is the rule of thumb formula i usually use so that is ~14, 000iu/day
but since you are so low i would just say 20, 000/day and re... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
? osteoarthritis: This is a common issue may need a surgical option.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
? osteoarthritis: Oa at the base of the thumbs is pretty common and at 60 and female this would be even more common
sometimes it quite subtle on the xrays
ask for... Read More
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Perhaps you did: Most broken toes will heal uneventfully unless markedly displaced
gently tape to an adjacent toe and be careful with it and all should go well
if yo... Read More
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Worrisome symptoms: Such symptoms could represent a "heart attack" it would be best to get this checked out by a doctor or emergency room very soon.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Magnesium: Try a magnesium supplement at bedtime
see if that works.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
No : They are both taking place in your foot but are not a directly connected problem
good shoe fitting can help somewhat.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Maybe: But it could be many other things
the best way to figure this out is to go see an orthopedic surgeon.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Not good: Sounds like maybe hit an artery / white hand with blue fingers sounds like impaired circulation to me
go get this checked out immediately from the s... Read More
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: Hard to say from the info you present but such a presentation could be seen with gout.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Kenneth Merrimananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
??: Could be several possible problems you are rather young for most of the more common issues but such things do occasionally trouble teens
you would b... Read More
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
5
Recommendations
512
Thank you notes
Mar 31, 2015
Great doctor. Consistently gives thoughtful, insightful and expert advice.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Merriman is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Merriman is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Well I'm seeing its in one part of my body then the next assuming it may be stress pain since I dont think i have 20 blood clots haha
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I dont have health insurance to follow up with my doctor. But i checked with him once and he said the other option we could try is p. therap
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Ya i have seen an ortho doctor but is it safe to take weight gaining capsules as i m having AVN. Dr also suggested surgery for hip replaceme
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Wayne State University School of Medicine, MI
Graduated 1974MD
Awards
Top Doctor, First Place, Grand Rapids, MI - Winter
2013
Most Influential, First Place, Grand Rapids, MI - Winter
2013
Thought Leader, First Place, Grand Rapids, MI - Winter
2013
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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