While most orthopedic conditions might require a surgical procedure to relieve your debilitating pain, not all the issues will need surgery to heal. Although your healthcare provider may not suggest non-surgical options mainly with complex injuries and deformities, they might advise you to try therapies before turning to surgery. The options are very effective, especially when your doctor combines two or more non-surgical options that will work to enhance the functions of the affected body part or joint. Jay M. Shah MD affirms that remedies like physical therapy will gradually help to improve your mobility and steadily strengthen the joints and muscles around the treatment area. However, the treatment might also be a primary treatment for particular orthopedic conditions.
Benefits of contacting your doctor for a non-invasive orthopedic treatment
Though a surgical procedure might be the ideal option your healthcare provider will suggest in addressing an orthopedic injury, treating the condition without the process might have various benefits including:
- Decreasing your pain levels
- Enhanced flexibility
- No risks associated with surgery
- Ability to resume your everyday life almost immediately
- Reduced downtime
Dr. Brian Cable says that the best part about non-invasive orthopedic options is that it is not a preserve for specific patients. However, a particular category of orthopedic patients might find the treatment most appealing. They include:
- Patients with pre-existing complications that might make a surgical procedure too risky
- Athletes who would not want surgery and post-op complications to interfere with their training schedules
- Arthritis patients who cannot benefit from the process
- Individuals who cannot afford an extended downtime
- Orthopedic patients who have tried and failed with the treatment
Which conditions are likely to benefit from non-surgical orthopedic treatments?
Non-surgical and invasive treatments address similar orthopedic conditions with different approaches. Before your treatment, your doctor will thoroughly assess your situation before designing a treatment plan that will specifically address your injury and medical goals. Conditions likely to benefit from the treatment include:
- Shoulder pain
- Bone fractures
- Sciatica
- Damages resulting from overusing a joint
- Joint pains resulting from arthritis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
The non-surgical option the medical professional will recommend depends on your results after a thorough evaluation and your medical history. The most processes are:
- Ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Running medicine, specifically for running athletes
- Medication
- Steroid injections
- Joint lubricant injections
- Orthobiologics
How effective are orthobiologics?
The term refers to the use of naturally-occurring substances in your body to aid in your healing process. Using a high concentration of biological substances may minimize your painful symptoms or address multiple orthopedic issues. The different types of orthobiologics your healthcare provider is likely to suggest include platelet-rich plasma injections, prolotherapy, bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections, and fat-derived stem cell injections.
Do not allow pain to prevent you from enjoying your life because you are not suitable for a surgical procedure or have no time for long recoveries. Non-surgical orthopedic treatments are also effective and might offer you instant pain relief after a few sessions. Consult your surgeon to learn about the available non-surgical orthopedic treatment options to help enhance your quality of life.
