Alternatives To Surgery In Orthopaedics

Many people will needlessly suffer with even minor orthopaedic issues simply because they’re afraid that the only remedy for their pain is a costly, time-consuming surgery with months of painful healing and follow-up therapy. That’s not usually the case, however.

When you visit OrthoGeorgia, you’re not necessarily coming for surgery; you’re coming for an assessment of a musculoskeletal problem. You will be seen by an orthopedist, an expert in treating musculoskeletal issues who also performs surgery.

However, there are very few diagnoses in orthopaedics that don’t have a non-surgical treatment alternative. In this article, we will discuss many of these alternatives.

Surgery Alternative #1: Time

It is said that “time heals all wounds.” While time may not be the only thing needed to treat all wounds, time is a great ally. Simply relieving symptoms and restoring mobility to allow your body to have the time it needs to heal can be the only steps to remedying many orthopaedic injuries.

The body has great healing potential. When you are injured, the body goes to work releasing agents that signal your body to heal. These agents, however, also start up an inflammation cascade that can cause pain. If you have an injury, RICE therapy works well to reduce the symptoms of inflammation. RICE stands for:

• Rest – Don’t exert the injured body part until it is properly healed.
• Ice – Use ice packs for 10 minutes at a time to reduce inflammation in the injury.
• Compression – Wrap or bind the injury with compression bandages to reduce and prevent swelling.
• Elevation – Keep the injury elevated above the heart to reduce swelling and inflammation.

When used together, these four treatments help decrease swelling and the presence of pain-causing chemicals in the body.

Surgery Alternative #2: Therapy

Gentle therapy targeting range of motion and strengthening will help you recover. “No pain, no gain” is not the answer. Steady progress is the answer. Most musculoskeletal problems can be solved with physical and RICE therapy.

Provided there is nothing significantly wrong, such as a fracture or torn muscle, you can begin to exercise to restore the general range of motion and experience progressive strengthening soon after your injury.

Sometimes, more advanced therapy is needed. While most people think of physical therapy as the follow-up to surgery, a trained therapist can help educate and guide you in your recovery from almost any musculoskeletal issue. In fact, pursuing therapy before an issue has developed to the point of needing surgery is an excellent way to avoid the surgery in the first place.

Therapists, with their advanced education and experience, can help decrease pain and increase mobility and function. Many therapists utilize various tools and techniques to help control inflammation, such as:

• Ultrasound
• Electrical nerve stimulation
• Massage therapy
• Moist heat
• Other treatment modalities

At OrthoGeorgia, our therapists utilize even more advanced modalities, such as dry needling and various forms of hydrotherapy, to benefit patients. Their work is invaluable in the continuum of treating musculoskeletal injuries.

Surgery Alternative #3: Oral Medications

Dozens of over-the-counter and prescription medicines can help control inflammation and pain. Most are short-term aids to control pain while you heal from an injury.

Of these, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), of which ibuprofen is the most common, are the mainstay of over-the-counter inflammation management. A short burst of steroids can be of benefit as well.

While these medicines are not entirely without risk, our providers are trained to review your medical history and help you make educated decisions regarding medications.

Surgery Alternative #4: Orthotics

Orthotics, including bracing and foot inserts, can help “realign” the body to aid and control body mechanics to help reduce pain and dysfunction.

When used in combination with other tools and techniques, bracing can aid in overcoming musculoskeletal pain. OrthoGeorgia has trained orthotics specialists who are experts in the field of bracing. These specialists are also skilled in modifying bracing with multiple orthotics – including orthotics controlling the extremities as well as the spine.

Our team is trained to fit and mold these braces to help patients overcome dysfunction and pain.

Surgery Alternative #5: Lifestyle Modifications

As stated before, the body is able to heal itself. In fact, it’s the greatest healer. However, choices that we make in our lifestyles can affect our musculoskeletal health.

Foremost among these lifestyle risk factors in the United States is excess weight. Obesity affects our musculoskeletal system in multiple ways, not least of which is simply by requiring our muscles and joints to work exponentially harder. One pound of weight loss is 4 lbs of pressure off of your knee joints.

Not only does obesity increase the mechanical stress on joints, but it also promotes inflammation. Obese patients have increased inflammatory markers in their bloodstream, resulting in more pain and inflammation.

Likewise, one’s diet can affect musculoskeletal inflammation. There are multiple examples of anti-inflammatory diets available, such as the Mediterranean diet or a vegan diet, that give the body the nutrients it needs without all the inflammatory ingredients that do more harm than good.

To further tackle inflammation, some of the newer drugs for weight loss, known as GLP-1, are showing increasing evidence that they can lead to decreased inflammation in the body. The use of these types of medications is best discussed with one’s primary care physician.

Surgery Alternative #6: Biologics

There is abundant advertising for regenerative medicine in the media. Special clinics are popping up everywhere, claiming that they can cure musculoskeletal problems with injections and other medications. Many of these clinics advertise stem cell therapy, blood therapy, and hormone therapy.

OrthoGeorgia offers stem cell therapy and a blood therapy known as platelet-rich plasma therapy. These therapies can help control symptoms of arthritis and assist healing, but they do not “rebuild” damaged joints.

Our providers are up to date on all of these biologics, including their benefits and limitations, but we do not usually recommend them as first-line therapies. While we try to keep our prices reasonable, these treatments are not typically covered by insurance and are fairly expensive. When a patient’s circumstances suggest that one of these treatments might be effective, we can discuss it at that time.

They are not magic bullets but are just another alternative treatment option in the vast array of treatments we offer. Our providers can discuss these and all of our other treatment options in the context of our total treatment program.

Conclusion

At OrthoGeorgia, we’re full-service orthopaedic specialists – surgery is just one of our options. In general, only one of every 25 new spine patients we see requires surgery, and only one of every 15 general orthopedic patients requires surgery. We take pride in offering the safest and most conservative approach available for every patient we see.

When you come to OrthoGeorgia, we present you with all of your treatment options, not just the most popular or profitable ones. Your treatment options should be decided between you and your doctor, not just dictated to you by your medical provider.

Visit one of our convenient locations today or call 478-745-4206 to make an appointment!

Disclaimer: The information contained within this material is intended for informational purposes only. No material in this content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider with questions regarding your medical conditions and treatment options.