Experiencing joint or back pain? Aren’t sure what to do? For many patients with joint or back pain, the first step in managing and alleviating their discomfort should be making an appointment to see a specialist in non-surgical orthopedic care.
Some of the minimally-invasive ways that these orthopedic doctors treat common injuries and conditions include:
- Braces, casts, and boots
- Physical therapy and home exercise
- Platelet-rich plasma treatment
- Steroid injections
- Nerve stimulation
- Oral and topical medications
- Immobilization
In this short and informative video, OrthoIndy physician Dr. Virgilio Chan talks about how he uses conservative treatments to help patients feel better—without surgery.
Keep reading to learn more about non-surgical orthopedic care options.
What is physiatry?
Physiatry is a field of medicine where specialists evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, illnesses and injuries. The purpose of physiatry is to help people find pain relief—non-surgically—through customized plans that use both time-tested techniques and cutting-edge treatments.
What do physiatrists treat?
Using their broad medical expertise of musculoskeletal and neurological issues, physiatrists treat each patient’s whole body.
At OrthoIndy, our physiatry team’s goal is to improve each patient’s quality of life with comprehensive treatment plans. Here, everyone gets personalized care based on their individual needs.
Learn how one OrthoIndy patient recovered from a painful ACL tear without surgery
When to seek non-surgical orthopedic treatments
The effectiveness of conservative care depends on several factors, including a patient’s level of activity before their injury happened or condition started. Moreover, the type of activities the patient wishes to return to is also a factor.
In some cases, whether a patient needs surgical management versus a conservative approach would depend on if neurological problems are present or not, says Dr. Chan.
Furthermore, if you have recurring or constant pain or if you have lost some function, a physiatrist can probably treat it with a more conservative approach. Your non-surgical orthopedic treatment might include a home exercise program and physical therapy in addition to some possible use of some medications to alleviate the pain, according to Dr. Chan.
When orthopedic surgery is necessary
Patients who have been involved in life-threatening, traumatic injuries should seek immediate evaluation. In these complex situations, emergency orthopedic surgery may be necessary to prevent long-lasting harm.
Schedule an appointment
Your well-being is important to us. To explore non-surgical orthopedic treatments for providing joint and back pain relief, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chan online or by calling 317.802.2859.
Note: If your injury or condition is recent, you can walk right into one of ourOrthoIndy Urgent Care locationsfor immediate care. For rehabilitation and physical therapy, no referral is needed tosee one of our physical therapists.
