This Orthopedics team includes physicians, surgeons, advanced practitioners, and nurses who specialize in helping patients move without pain. | Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health
If you’re struggling with pain, traveling for treatment is probably the last thing you want to do. Lucky for Lakelanders,you don’t have to go far to get the specialized orthopedic care you need.
“The greatest satisfaction I have is seeing a patient with a disabling condition returned to full function after my intervention,” said Dr. Stuart Patterson.
Think you or a loved one may be dealing with an injury? “With an acute injury, it’s obvious,” explained Dr. Eric Wicks. But with overuse, or a chronic injury, it can be tricky. “Sometimes we see someone who’s pretty far down the road, and we know if we had intervened earlier, the patient would have an even better chance of getting better quicker.”
LRH’s general orthopedic services offer care for rotator cuff injuries, meniscus tears, tendon injuries, muscle strains, and dislocations, just to name a few. As for injury prevention, the Bone Health Clinic evaluates patients’ risk for fracture, then develops a plan tailored to their needs to help them take charge of their bone health.
And let’s clear up a common misconception: Sports medicine isn’t just for athletes. LRH’s Sports Medicine physicians care for pros and college athletes, but they also help patients from all walks of life return to the physical work and recreational activities they enjoy — without pain.
“If you are having pain with your activity, you are not enjoying that activity to its fullest. That’s where we can provide care, assistance, and advice, with the goal of getting you back to enjoying what you love doing,” said Dr. Colton Faza. In short: “Don’t play through the pain.”
LRH Orthopedics Services are available at four convenient locations in Lakeland, Lake Wales, and Winter Haven.
Not sure whether treatment is right for you? Take it from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mario John: “Joints are like the tires on a car. The more active you are, the more miles you put on tires or on your joints, the rougher they will feel. And as the joints start wearing out, and the pain starts to affect you, you need to seek out expert advice.”
The Detroit Tigers will return for their 90th spring training season in Lakeland in February, and you can buy tickets now. Snag season passes or tickets for single games, starting with a matchup against the Orioles on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:05 p.m. (The Ledger)
Arts
How’s your Italian? The AGB has opened its newest exhibition, “The Medici Dynasty: Renaissance in Florence,” featuring Renaissance paintings and artifacts that have never been seen outside of Italy before. It’s free to browse through April.
Ranked
No. 1. That’s where Research.com ranked Florida Polytechnic University’s computer science program among Florida’s public universities. Using factors like cost and earning potential, the report also ranked the school’s data science program at No. 18 in the nation.
Kids
Get the latest scoop on College Avenue by picking up the next copy of College Ave-News. Siblings Elliott + Henry Hall started this hyperlocal newspaper to share their street’s stories, and the January edition will include comics and recipes collected by other kids. (Spectrum News 13)
Asked
What was the best thing you ate in Lakeland this year? Share your drool-worthy picks to be featured in our end-of-year roundups.
List
Many Lakelanders have go-to treats at Publix, and it turns out the editors at Southern Living do, too. We’re not surprised to see the sprinkle cookies on this list of their 14 favorite baked goods, but the others — like unfrosted cake layers — may surprise you.
Number
20. That’s how many days remain before Girl Scouts of West Central Florida begins its annual cookie sale. This season, try the chocolatey Exploremores, a new rocky road ice cream-inspired flavor.
There’s still time to register for Spring 2026 online classes at Southeastern University. Register to be a more educated version of yourself in the new year, whether you’re starting out or starting over.*
Read
Staying behind on tech trends can be a career killer. The Code is a twice weekly newsletter with curated tech news, practical resources, and insights decoded. Join 100,000+ engineers who read The Code to stay ahead of the curve.*
To make it plane and simple, LAL airport news took over LALtoday. | Photo via @wacokitchenfl
300+. That’s how many newsletters LALtoday delivered to inboxes this year, each one packed with Lakeland’s top stories of the day. Which topics reigned supreme in 2025? These are the stories that readers loved most.
Lakeland International Airport
It’s been a whirlwind year for LAL, which now offers nonstop flights to seven destinations (plus two more to Atlanta + Detroit coming in 2026). Readers were preparing for takeoff and planning their orders from Sora Eatery, the new airport restaurant.
Unique real estate
Cookie-cutter? Never heard of it. Our readers were into stand-out homes this year, whether it was two newly built, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired houses or a historic home that Wright himself actually visited.
Lakefront condos also dominated the scene. See inside an office-turned-residence on Lake Morton, or look ahead to four new builds coming soon across from Lake Hollingsworth.
Add some fun and laughter to holiday gatherings with a few of our favorite card and board games. We love these five:
🎲 Put your drawing skills to the test in Telestrations — perfect for 4-8 players.
🎲 The award-winning game Flip 7 is self proclaimed “the greatest card game of all time.”
🎲 Shut the Box is an easy-to-play dice game for up to six players.
🎲 Perfect for parties, Ransom Notes will have your entire crew belly laughing.
🎲 Connect words with colors in an engaging game of Hues and Cues.
So we know your favorite stories to read, but what were my favorites to write? I’m handing out some story superlatives.
Weirdest: Prehistoric creatures that once roamed Polk County Tastiest: Lakeland’s oldest restaurants Most intriguing: Baseline, downtown’s future pickleball + dining concept (more on this coming soon)
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