What Does an Orthopedic Doctor in Phoenix Treat?
An orthopedic doctor in Phoenix will concentrate on medical problems related to the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, which can be broken or damaged in other ways. It also includes areas of soft tissue in the body as well as tendons and ligaments. Muscles are another part of the musculoskeletal system that can be torn or damaged and would be treated by an orthopedic specialist.
One major area that an orthopedic professional will treat is joints. Your joints are parts of your body where your bones and muscles come together and can move. This includes your shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees, and hips. These areas are especially sensitive to arthritis and injury and will often need treatment when they are inflamed or when the tissues have been damaged.
Osteoarthritis
Areas Affected
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that breaks down the cartilage in the joints. As the protective cartilage is destroyed, the bones have nothing to guard them against each other. They begin to rub against each other, causing pain that can be very significant.
Any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis. It is common in the shoulders and knees in particular but can also be a problem in the hips and fingers.
Development of the Condition
The condition begins slowly and gets worse over time as cartilage disappears. The cartilage will continue to deteriorate in the future. Deterioration can be slowed if the condition is treated.
Treatments for Osteoarthritis
Treatment for this disease often begins with medication. First, over-the-counter medication can help ease the pain of the condition. When that no longer works, patients will often try prescription medication and sometimes physical therapy. Injections in the affected area can also be helpful in relieving the pain caused by the scraping of bones.
When medication is not effective, surgery is often required. This type of surgery will actually replace the joint. Patients will leave the procedure with a joint made from titanium or some other material. This relieves the pain and allows the person to continue normal activities.
Injuries
Sports Injuries
Athletes can be very hard on their bodies and may ask a lot of their joints in particular. Injuries caused by sports are a common reason for needing orthopedic care. Sports injuries can happen quickly, especially when an accident happens during an athletic event or practice. Athletes may fall from sports equipment, get hit with something being used in the sport, or run into another player.
Other sports injuries are not caused by a single accident but happen more slowly over time. This would include many joint issues. Problems with the knees, for example, can develop in runners who use their knees again and again as they move and bounce. When this happens, joints can begin to become stiff and swollen and eventually will be painful.
Work Injuries
Injuries requiring orthopedic treatment are sometimes caused by accidents in the workplace. You may be lifting something heavy or fall while completing a work-related task. When you injure yourself in this way, the treatment may require physical therapy or even surgery.
Some jobs lend themselves to particular orthopedic problems. One example is carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that affects the hand and is often found in people who spend a lot of time typing. Another injury may be found in people who lift heavy boxes every day. Over time, joints, muscles, and bones can be worn down and become painful.
Treatments
Knee
Meniscus Repair
The menisci are two pieces of cartilage that surround and protect the knee joint. When the knee joint is moved in an unnatural way, such as twisting, a meniscus can be torn. A torn meniscus is a painful injury, but it can be repaired.
Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is at the center of the knee and helps hold the parts of the legs together. If the ACL is damaged, the knee may be painful and no longer work properly. The ACL can be reconstructed so patients get back the full use of the knee.
Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
This treatment involves identifying the cartilage that is damaged and actually removing it. The removal of the damaged tissue will stimulate healthy cartilage to grow again.
Arthroscopic Microfracture Procedure
This is a surgical procedure that helps repair problems in the knee called articular cartilage injuries. Symptoms of this type of injury include pain and swelling as well as having the knee suddenly buckle unexpectedly. The knee may also make cracking or popping noises that can be heard when walking and moving.
The arthroscopic microfracture procedure involves making small holes, called microfractures, a few millimeters apart in the bone of the knee. Then the bone marrow that is exposed actually creates a substance that helps to repair the damage and allows new tissue to form. In this way, the body is encouraged to repair and treat itself.
Shoulder
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tissue that keeps the shoulder joint in place and allows it to rotate. Quick, unnatural movements can damage this area, causing pain and an inability to properly move. Tears in this area can be fixed to allow normal movement once again.
Arthroscopic SLAP Repair
SLAP refers to superior labrum anterior-posterior or special tissue that exists in the shoulder joint. This area can become injured and tear, limiting arm movement.
Arthroscopic Bankark Repair
This is a tear in an area of the shoulder that can be significant and cause intense pain. It can be repaired with special equipment.
Arthroscopic Shoulder Impingement Surgery
This condition involves the deterioration of tissue that creates pain when the arms are raised or during certain other movements. The pain is caused by the shoulder blade scraping against tendons in the shoulder. The arthroscopic surgery will involve removing the tissue that is causing the problem and allowing the tendons and shoulder blade to have more cushioning as they move.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy or arthroscopic surgery is sometimes called keyhole surgery because it requires using a small endoscope that is inserted through a tiny incision in the affected area. This allows the surgeon to perform the procedure without a lot of cutting or other damage. This type of surgery is often used by orthopedic doctors on joints and is part of many different treatments.
Sometimes arthroscopy is performed in order to explore the problem and to see what damage needs to be repaired. It can allow the patient and the surgical team to determine what kind of procedure will be the best solution to the medical issue. Then the surgical procedure can be performed with more information that will allow a more successful outcome.
Visco-Supplementation
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally formed in the body and helps to plump the skin and make it more supple. It is often used in skincare treatments to fight wrinkles caused by aging skin. The visco-supplementation process involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the joints. This hyaluronic acid is replaced and lubricates the joints that are scraping against each other when the joint moves.
Most patients say they have maximum pain relief within 8 to 12 weeks after the procedure is performed. The results may not be permanent, however, but most patients still have pain relief after 6 months.
Loose Body Removal
This is a treatment that helps to remove small particles that may be floating in the joint. Sometimes pressure, contact with a hard surface, or injuries can cause small pieces of bone or cartilage to tear away from the joint and stay loose in the joint. Arthroscopic surgery can be used to remove these particles that can cause pain and limited movement.
PRP Injections
Blood Drawing
This treatment begins by removing some of the patient’s own blood from another part of the body. This allows the patient to naturally heal. Using the patient’s blood also removes the chance that the body will react negatively to the injection of the cells.
Platelet Removal
Once the blood has been taken, it is placed into a centrifuge where it spins at a high rate of speed. This removes the platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, from the red blood cells. The platelet-rich plasma can then be harvested for use in the affected joint.
Injection
The platelet-rich plasma that has been harvested from the patient’s blood is then placed in a syringe and injected into the joint that is damaged.
Result
After the PRP has been injected, it begins to work within the joint to regrow cartilage and healthy tissues that are needed for healing. This regrowth allows the joint to renew itself. Pain, swelling, and other problems will then disappear as the joint heals. It may take several weeks or months for the healing process to be complete.
Orthopedic Professionals Can Help Relieve Your Pain
When you are suffering from pain from a sports injury or in your joints from some other cause, an orthopedic doctor in Phoenix is the likeliest solution to your problem. Using advanced modern treatments and techniques, orthopedic professionals will be able to determine the cause of your pain and other swelling and provide the appropriate response to get you moving again.
Sometimes work or sports can lead to injuries in the joints that cause pain, swelling, and scraping of the bones and tendons. Call us today at Mattalino Orthopaedic in Phoenix, AZ for a consultation about your musculoskeletal problems.