Total joint replacement is an invasive procedure in which your surgeon replaces arthritic or damaged parts of the joint with an artificial joint. While a total joint replacement is the most effective treatment for a damaged and painful joint, it should be the final course of action after exhausting more conservative, non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments or procedures. Some common alternatives to total joint replacements include –.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy isn’t only for post-operative recovery or healing after an injury. Physical therapists offer a variety of treatments and exercises to increase flexibility, enhance range of motion, strengthen stiff and painful joints and stabilize the joints in question.
Medication Management
When it comes to relieving joint pain, over-the-counter NSAIDs – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – can help. NSAIDs – which include ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin – reduce pain by reducing the inflammation that causes it. Certain supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, have been known to increase joint mobility while decreasing the need for NSAIDs and painkillers.
Pain Management
Pain management is a medical specialty dedicated to the alleviation and treatment of pain. Your pain management treatment plan may include ultrasound imaging, which allows for the optimal placement of pain-management injections to most effectively alleviate joint pain. Facet joint pain can be eased with a simple injection of a potent, long-acting, local anesthetic on the medial branch nerves. Epidural injections and other pain management techniques can relieve pain and, combined with a program of physical therapy or other treatments, may prevent the need for total joint replacement.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is a highly effective minimally invasive procedure that can repair a damaged joint without the need for total replacement. Rather than a large incision and replacement of the joint, arthroscopic surgery requires only a few small incisions – enough for the arthroscope to capture images and to allow the surgeon to use specialized tools to gain access to and repair the injured, torn, or abnormal structures present in the joint.
Partial Knee Replacement
Of the many joints in your body, the knee is often the most vulnerable and subject to damage. Rather than replacing the entire knee joint, your surgeon may advise a partial knee replacement. Unlike a total knee replacement, partial knee replacement is a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to preserve the healthy compartments of the knee while minimizing the impact of a more invasive procedure. Partial knee replacement is particularly effective for those living with arthritis and other degenerative bone conditions that are limited to select portions of the knee. Likewise, other joints have similar procedures that require minimally invasive technique to repair limited damage.
Complete Joint Care in Naples
No one should have to endure joint pain – whether it is from overuse, injury, or the effects of time – you will want to work with a practice that is committed solely to healthy joints and joint care. If you live in the greater Naples area, the Joint Replacement Institute offers the full-range of joint care, from pain management and physical therapy to surgical options. Our team of orthopedic experts brings together decades of experience to diagnose and treat even the most complex orthopedic problems for patients of all ages. Why wait? Call the Joint Replacement Institute today at (239) 261-2663, or request an appointment online for your first step to alleviating chronic joint pain.
