When you start having even the slightest joint pain, it’s time to see an orthopedic expert. At OrthoMiami in Miami, you meet with the area’s top orthopedic surgeon, Cesar E. Ceballos, MD. Dr. Ceballos works hard to put together a joint preservation plan for your needs. His goal is to preserve as much bone and soft tissue as possible, so you can avoid going through joint replacement surgery. Book your assessment appointment with him online, or over the phone. The flexible scheduling team often gets new patients in for a visit within a few days.
Not all joint injuries, or even severe arthritis, require you to go through a full or partial joint replacement surgery. Usually Dr. Ceballos suggests surgery as an absolute last resort. After all, it’s better most of the time to preserve your natural joints and help them heal. Joint preservation plans are tailored to fit your specific injury or condition. Opting for minimally and noninvasive joint preservation procedures is beneficial because you:
Each patient is unique, as are joint preservation plans. Dr. Ceballos designs a treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms and your pain level. Your plan may include:
Corticosteroid injections, or cortisone shots, minimize inflammation in your joints and soft tissue. Most men and women report having noticeably lower pain shortly after receiving the injection. While your pain relief isn’t permanent, you can expect to enjoy the benefits of your cortisone shot for several months. You can get the injection again later on, if you need it.
It’s actually the opposite. You may think that exercise worsens arthritis or makes pain worse, but if you don’t move the joint, your arthritis flares up even more. Part of your joint preservation plan is likely to include physical therapy. You work one-on-one with a therapist, who helps you learn various exercises that build muscle while improving joint mobility.
For example, when you build up the muscles surrounding your knee joint, your knee won’t have to work as hard. The result is less pain and inflammation in your knee joint.
Possibly. If you have a lot of inflammation and scar tissue built up around your joints, Dr. Ceballos can go in and remove it with arthroscopic surgery. This minimally invasive procedure preserves healthy joint tissue and typically lessens your pain.
