# @nickpappasmd on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc_Th2dJnav
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70313290-nickpappasmd-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9b9c57f3fa.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-07T14:17:01.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Nick Pappas, MD (@nickpappasmd) — https://gondola.cc/nickpappasmd

## Caption

Comment NEWSLETTER for more similar health information, and I'll send you a link to my free weekly newsletter 🗞️

👉 Here are a few hills I’ll die on as an orthopedic surgeon 🦴👇

💪 Creatine isn't just for bodybuilders.  While multiple research studies over the years have demonstrated creatine’s ability to support strength, muscle growth, and exercise performance, what’s especially interesting is the growing research into brain health 🧠. Some studies suggest potential benefits for memory, attention, and processing speed, although the cognitive evidence is still developing and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.

🚬 Smoking can significantly impair fracture healing. This isn’t just something orthopedic surgeons tell patients. Research has found smokers have a significantly increased risk of delayed union or nonunion, which is when your fracture doesn't heal.

🧪 Peptides like BPC-157 (which is touted to support tissue healing) need MUCH better human research. There’s plenty of hype (and it may actually have significant benefits), but we simply don’t have high-quality human evidence establishing that BPC-157 is safe and effective. The FDA specifically notes that it has limited safety information and insufficient data to determine whether it may cause harm in humans (e.g. cancers). 

🦵 Losing weight can make a huge difference for knee pain. One of my favorite statistics: for every 1 pound of body weight lost, there can be roughly 4 pounds less load across the knee with each step. Over thousands of steps every day, that adds up. 

😂 And the last one is obviously a joke. We orthopedic surgeons CAN read EKGs…we just do it at about a third-grade level. Give me a 9-hour toe-to-thumb transfer instead. 🫡

What’s a medical hill you’re willing to die on? 👇

#orthopedics #orthopedicsurgeon #health #fitness #medicine

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orthopedicsurgeon, orthopedics, medicine, fitness, health

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