Chronic pain can derail your life and prevent you from performing daily activities. You may experience chronic pain for numerous reasons, such as arthritis, muscle sprains and strains, osteoporosis, ruptured discs, and skeletal malfunctions. Our physicians diagnose the root cause of your chronic pain to curate personalized solutions for your pain management in The Woodlands. Our treatment plans always start with non-invasive pain management solutions and regenerative medicine, and we only recommend surgery if all other solutions fail.
RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
RICE is widely considered the most effective non-invasive solution to chronic pain. The term RICE is an abbreviation for rest, ice, compression, and elevation — the name contains guidelines for your first steps towards pain management. When experiencing acute or chronic pain, you must follow these guidelines:
- Rest — avoid activities that trigger pain and inflammation
- Ice — apply ice packs on the injured areas for up to 30 minutes every couple of hours
- Compression — wrap the injured areas in a compression bandage to reduce swelling
- Elevation — elevate the injured site to improve blood circulation and recovery
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can minimize swelling and joint inflammation. Our physicians may provide anti-inflammatory medications to provide instant relief from chronic pain. We may also provide corticosteroid injections to reduce joint inflammation and improve mobility. However, in most cases, we only use NSAIDs to alleviate the immediate pain and discomfort while working on long-term strategies for your pain management in The Woodlands. Our aim is to address the root cause of your chronic pain.
Physical Therapy/ Exercises
Physical therapy is essential for everyone suffering from acute or chronic pain, whatever the root cause. However, different types of chronic pain necessitate different types of exercises. After diagnosing the root cause of your chronic pain, we curate a personalized chart for your exercises. We recommend exercises to improve your range of motion and flexibility and strengthen your muscles, offering better support to the joints. Physical therapy won’t provide immediate pain relief, but it will support the recovery process.
Orthobiologics
Orthobiologics is the area of regenerative medicine concerned with using autologous (derived from your body) components to stimulate natural tissue regeneration. Our physicians harvest platelet-rich plasmas or stem cells from your body via a small sample of your blood or bone marrow. When injected into the areas with damaged joints and bones, these components facilitate natural healing and tissue regeneration, making your body heal itself. Orthobiologics is a solution our physicians might utilize for your pain management in The Woodlands.
PRP Therapy
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is derived from a small sample of your blood. The physician draws a sample of your blood and spins it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelet-rich plasma, which rises to the top as a golden-colored liquid. The PRP contains a high concentration of growth factors responsible for most of the healing activities in the body. When PRPs are injected into the damaged joints, the growth factors facilitate natural bone and tissue regeneration to reverse the damage caused by injuries and arthritis.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells have unique regenerative properties because they can transform into other types of essential cells or replicate themselves to create more stem cells. When your tendons, tissues, bone, and cartilage are injured, they need stem cells to heal naturally. However, your body may not have enough stem cells to facilitate natural healing. When that happens, the surgeon can draw stem cells from your bone marrow and inject them into the injured areas to simulate natural healing.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Our orthopedic specialists may recommend arthroscopic surgery if non-surgical and non-invasive solutions don’t yield sufficient results. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique wherein the surgeon makes two to three small incisions approximately 1cm wide to access the injured joints and tissues. The surgeon drives a camera through one incision to project the visuals on a monitor and make the necessary surgical alterations. This is the safest surgical technique — it involves minimal downtime and negligible risk of complications.
Schedule an Appointment
Movement Orthopaedic Institute offers a wide range of advanced pain management solutions according to your unique needs and goals. Our orthopedic specialists perform numerous diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and ultrasounds, to identify and treat the root cause of your problems, ensuring long-lasting results. Furthermore, we also specialize in regenerative medicine to encourage natural healing and pain relief without incisions or surgeries. Please schedule an appointment to explore your options for pain management in the Woodlands.
