Well-working joints are crucial to a healthy lifestyle, but as with most parts of the body, consistent wear and tear on them can lead to joint pain, decreased mobility and other health issues. Joint replacement can be daunting, but joint preservation often offers an alternative to surgery. Bright McConnell, MD, founder and board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Charleston Sports Medicine provides patients noninvasive or minimally invasive joint preservation treatments that are revolutionizing joint health by extending the natural life of the joint rather than removing and replacing it entirely.
There are a range of joint preservation treatments that can prevent or delay a surgical joint replacement. Depending on the condition and severity of the joint issues, Dr. McConnell works with patients to find the right fit that will improve joint function, reduce pain and extend use and mobility. For some patients, conditions like osteoarthritis, joint stability and cartilage damage can be alleviated without total replacement. Below are some Joint preservation techniques used alone or in combination with regenerative medicine for faster healing and recovery.
Arthroscopy
A very small camera and specialized tools can be inserted into the joint itself through small incisions. While the procedure can be used to diagnose issues, it can also be used to repair painful cartilage tears, ligament damage and problems with the synovial membrane (a thin membrane that protects and lubricates the joint). Treatment is minimally invasive, and recovery time is generally short.
Medication
NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce inflammation and pain.
Physical therapy
The Charleston Sports Medicine Physical Therapy team is highly experienced and supported by the latest advancements in PT technology. In addition to exercises designed to strengthen muscles around the joint and improve range of motion, exciting breakthrough medically based fitness technologies are making fast, nonsurgical recovery possible for more patients than ever before.
Some of these include Vasper Charleston, based on three scientifically proven principles – compression technology, cooling, and interval training, and MLS Therapy, the innovative and patented Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Therapy Laser delivers therapeutic wavelengths that produce greater anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects while enhancing the speed of healing.
Biologic therapies
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSC)
For patients with early-stage arthritis or those who cannot undergo surgery, stem cells can develop into different tissues and help promote healing by regenerating damaged tissues.
ADMSC is beneficial for patients looking for a less invasive option to total joint replacement surgeries. In this procedure, adult mesenchymal stem cells are taken from the patient’s own adipose stores following the tendon or joint delivery protocol to nonsurgically speed healing and alleviate pain.
An innovative technique, Cellmyx Intellifat BOD, was developed to obtain micro fragmented Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) with a high regenerative capacity. Dr. McConnell is among the first in the area to bring this new regenerative medicine to orthopedic patients.
Platelet-Rich Plasma and PPX Injections
Through this process, platelets are taken from a small sample of blood and then injected into the joint. The platelets can enhance the healing process and promote tissue repair.
Injections
Corticosteroid injections are used to reduce inflammation in the joint, and hyaluronic acid injections replenish the natural lubricant in the joint
If you are experiencing persistent joint pain, swelling or inflammation, chronic stiffness or loss of mobility, contact Charleston Sports Medicine to find out if a joint preservation treatment can help you get moving again.
