When joint replacement isn't the right choice, our specialists at Orthopaedic Associates of Maine are here to help you experience less pain and greater mobility.
Each year, countless individuals find themselves sidelined by joint pain and injuries. However, joint replacement surgery isn't the only option available. Our orthopedic specialists provide a comprehensive array of non-surgical treatment solutions designed to help you return to your active lifestyle.
"In many cases, we can get people back to running or to the gym and other activities they enjoy," says Christopher Regnier, DO, a sports medicine physician specializing in the prevention and nonsurgical treatment of acute and chronic orthopedic conditions. "For others, that goal may be just to walk down the flight of stairs or around the block without pain."
Helping patients with unique challenges
"I treat a lot of patients where, unfortunately, they are just not great candidates for a hip or knee replacement," says Christopher Lonegan, DO, a primary care sports medicine physician specializing in treating non-surgical sports-related and other musculoskeletal injuries. "Their body mass index (BMI) may be too high, or they may have other health issues where surgery is not possible."
"There are also many patients who are in a gray zone," continues Dr. Lonegan. "They may have arthritis that is advancing but not quite at a stage of needing a replacement. Although they aren't yet candidates for joint replacement, some people have considerable pain to the point where physical therapy might not be an option for them."
Non-surgical treatments can reduce pain and increase function
At Orthopaedic Associates of Maine, our specialists develop personalized treatment plans for patients dealing with joint pain or injuries. One of the primary options we often explore is an injection to help relieve joint discomfort.
Based on individual needs, our physicians may suggest a cortisone shot, a viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid) injection, a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, or a combination of these to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
In many instances, we utilize advanced ultrasound technology to ensure that these injections are administered safely and with the utmost precision.
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound, also known as sonography, is a diagnostic tool that allows us to visualize softer tissues and organs in the body, such as tendons, muscles, joint surfaces, and blood vessels. Unlike X-rays or MRIs, ultrasound does not utilize any form of radiation. Instead, it employs sound waves that penetrate the body, operating at frequencies that are inaudible to the human ear—so it's quite different from the loud sounds of a rock concert.
Ultrasound imaging is valuable for diagnosing injuries to soft tissues and can also assist in certain treatments. For instance, orthopedic specialists can use ultrasound to precisely guide medication during joint injections, significantly increasing the likelihood of alleviating your joint pain.
Dr. Lonegan explains further: "A lot of times if you go to someone who is not trained in this type of modality, you can have an injection but it might not actually be in the place where you're wanting it to be, it might not be treating what you're aiming to treat, you might accidentally put it in a muscle that's completely unrelated to where a tendinopathy is. And so, for me, it's incredibly important to know exactly where I'm putting the medication, so we're actually treating what's the issue."
One type of injection we offer, guided by ultrasound imaging, is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. During this procedure, we begin by drawing a small sample of your own blood. We then separate the blood into its various components, isolating the platelets for extraction using a syringe.
Our orthopedic specialists will utilize ultrasound technology to precisely guide the needle into the affected area of your joint for the PRP injection. This treatment can often stimulate the tissues in your joint, potentially kickstarting the healing process and aiding in repair. The entire procedure typically takes about 30 minutes.
PRP is just one of the non-surgical options available for knee pain relief, and it can also be applied to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints throughout the body. While research is ongoing, PRP may provide benefits for conditions such as tennis elbow, jumper's knee, plantar fasciitis, muscle strains, ligament sprains, and even arthritis. For more information on how our orthopedic physicians utilize ultrasound imaging, please explore further.
You may also be familiar with another type of injection used for pain management: steroid injections.
"I have some patients come in with absolutely debilitating shoulder pain," says Dr. Lonegan. "In this state, they really can't move their shoulder or tolerate any degree of therapy. In this scenario, we often start with a steroid injection to calm down this pain so they can use their shoulder in a therapeutic way."
What is a steroid injection?
Steroid injections, commonly known as cortisone shots or corticosteroid injections, are pharmaceutical formulations that closely resemble a hormone produced naturally by your body called cortisol.
These corticosteroids are utilized to alleviate pain associated with injuries and conditions characterized by significant inflammation. While inflammation is a crucial part of your body's immune response aimed at healing an injury, it can sometimes lead to excessive pain that hinders your ability to engage in activities—like physical therapy—that are essential for recovery and preventing further injury.
Cortisone injections can be administered in larger joints, such as the knee and shoulder, as well as smaller joints, including those in the hand or ankle.
A well-rounded strategy for non-surgical pain relief
At Orthopaedic Associates of Maine, our specialists provide a holistic approach to non-surgical joint pain treatment that goes beyond ultrasound and injections. If your pain allows for movement, physical therapy and occupational therapy are likely to play a crucial role in your recovery plan. In many cases, orthopedic conditions and injuries can be effectively addressed with physical therapy alone. Should you require more advanced treatments, rest assured that we are here to support you every step of the way.
"In addition to injections, physical therapy, medications, lifestyle modification, and nerve blocks, we can help our patients manage their condition until they are at a point where they may need to move forward with surgical intervention," explains Dr. Regnier.
"I have patients that managed their conditions with more conservative treatments for years, if not a decade or more," Dr. Regnier continues. "Some do end up needing joint replacement, but it's hard to predict."
Regardless of your journey toward non-surgical pain relief for a joint injury or condition, our orthopedic physicians, physical therapists, and dedicated team at Orthopaedic Associates of Maine are here to support you every step of the way. To schedule an appointment with a musculoskeletal ultrasound specialist, please call us at 207.828.2100 or fill out this form.