What You Should Know About Joint Care
At Apex Sports and Regenerative Medicine we offer a variety of solutions for joint care that can help our patients feel better and regain mobility. It is far better to prevent joint damage with non-invasive treatment options than to need intensive treatment options. With that in mind, we encourage patients to contact us and schedule an appointment as soon as they begin noticing problems with their joints, such as pains in the knee, wrist and elbow.
We can provide comprehensive care regardless of what stage of joint damage a person finds themselves in.
What purpose do joints serve?
Joints connect bones within your body, bear weight and enable you to move. They are made up of bone, muscles, synovial fluid, cartilage and ligaments. There are many different kinds of joints in your body. There are hinge joints, like your knee and elbow that allow limited motion, like flexion and extension and ball and socket joints, like your shoulders and hips, which provide a much greater range of motion.
What happens when the joints become damaged?
Anytime the joints sustain damage, it will make it more difficult or painful to move. The level of pain is going to depend on the area of the body in which the joints sustain damage and the severity of that damage. In some cases, the joint pain may be minor and go away after a couple of weeks with ibuprofen and rest.
In other cases, joint pain can be severe, requiring ongoing medical intervention and treatment. Again, we encourage patients to visit our practice at the first sign of joint problems so that we can prevent the condition from worsening.
Common types of joint problems
As a provider of joint care, we regularly treat people who are suffering from different types of arthritis, gout, sprains, strains and bursitis. These are just a few of the conditions involving joint damage.
Those with joint damage often suffer from pain in the:
- Knees
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Elbows
- Ankles
- Feet
- Hands
- Wrists
Treatment options
The treatment options we recommend are going to depend on the individual needs of a patient. They can include:
- Getting appropriate rest
- Ice on affected area
- Compressing the area with a wrap or brace
- Elevating the joint if swollen
- Taking anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or Naproxen (Aleve)
- Physical Therapy
- Steroid Injections using ultrasound guidance to ensure exact placement
- Removing fluid from the joint if swollen
Regenerative Medicine
While the above treatments are successful in most cases, some people may continue to have pain. In those cases, we offer a variety of regenerative treatments that can help the joint to heal and get you back on your feet without surgery. All of our regenerative treatments are again administered with ultrasound guidance as blind injections often are placed in the wrong area. Some of our regenerative treatments include:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Bone Marrow Stem Cells
- Amniotic Fluid/ Tissue
- Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
- High Dose Laser Therapy
To find out more about these cutting edge regenerative treatments. visit our website and look under Regenerative Medicine
Call for help
Ultimately, it is important to visit a physician to receive joint care at the first sign of a problem. We always customize the treatment for your particular needs. If you are suffering from joint pain we encourage you to call our office and make an appointment today.
